Why are people not wearing masks?

[FergusComeLately]

I’m queuing inside my local supermarket, I’ve see one other person wearing a mask.

Does it not make sense to just TRY to protect other people and try and keep infection rates down. Even a scarf wound round your face?!

I think they should be compulsory when you are inside. Is it the PPE shortage which is preventing Boris from making it so?

Talk to me about masks!

To disagree with the WHO is the realm of fake news.

What's the exit criteria for masks, then, or are they a kind of forever fixture?

That is a good question.

I suppose a vaccine or herd immunity being achieved, i.e. very low sustainable transmission rates.
None will be soon.
And it applies to social distancing in general.

What happened to my body my choice? The freedom to make decisions about our health, our body, our sexual life - the basic human right.

Blanket rules cause division. It creates discrimination. Think of how this type of stuff worked out in the past? How bad things once were, the continuing fight to make positive changes. It wasn't that long ago we locked away those who were different, enforced masks creates that.

It already falls under Coercive Control and laws we have about health and care.

What if there is never a cure?

Isn't it bad enough that many of us who cannot wear them, the earliest release date is June 15th? 12 weeks sentence for stuff I was born with and various accidents, that's my only crime.

Might as well commit a crime, I would know when my sentence would end. I would get more freedom. Selfish me, wanting to have a quality of life for as long as I am able.

But what about other infectious diseases? They're never going away.

There will always be immune compromised people. Is it too much to ask that we all wear masks in public, forever, to help them out?

If most people who can wear masks do wear them, then it should give more freedom to those who can't and are vulnerable. Surely people won't be embarrassed to say they have asthma (even if the reason is not that).

And this is not comparable to other infectious diseases. Not how it spreads at the moment, nor in terms of impact.
But tbh, if people with colds and respiratory infections start wearing masks routinely, and it's seen as normal, it can only be better for health, don't you think?

Surely people won't be embarrassed to say they have asthma (even if the reason is not that).

I would be hugely embarrassed and upset to have to divulge why I can't cope with a mask on. I know I'd get a Drs note (already been discussed in case it becomes mandatory) but it's extremely personal. As demonstrated by so many covid threads people have zero understanding and zero sympathy for mental health when they feel under threat themselves. I can't see lying being particularly helpful either.

Surely people won't be embarrassed to say they have asthma (even if the reason is not that)

Why should you have to justify yourself though?
You may be comfortable divulging any medical problems, but not everyone will.

I went to Sainsburys today and was the only one in there wearing a mask.
It felt a little strange, being an odd one out but that's nothing new
I wore it for the shop workers acknowledging that they're working through difficult times and to reduce the possible viral load in the store.

But tbh, if people with colds and respiratory infections start wearing masks routinely, and it's seen as normal, it can only be better for health, don't you think?

Not really when they restrict the amount of oxygen for some people.
When intubation is required it is risky and painful, assuming you make it in time to the local A&E department. Asthma, COPD etc are in no way comparable to a cold.

There will always be immune compromised people. Is it too much to ask that we all wear masks in public, forever, to help them out?

Yes. It is. Sorry but can you imagine a world where we have to wear masks all the time?! Seriously?! I like the South East Asian approach of wearing them when they are ill to protect others. But all the time?! Forever?! No. That's just the stuff of dystopian nightmares.

Yes. It is. Sorry but can you imagine a world where we have to wear masks all the time?! Seriously?! I like the South East Asian approach of wearing them when they are ill to protect others. But all the time?! Forever?! No. That's just the stuff of dystopian nightmares.

I agree.

To show proof to all and sundry would require a change in how health information is shared. You really want your neighbours banging on your door demanding to know what's wrong with you?

It would also help to ensure that potential employers discriminate because of those none-mask outdoor pics.

But tbh, if people with colds and respiratory infections start wearing masks routinely, and it's seen as normal, it can only be better for health, don't you think?

What about the asymptomatic incubation period?

I would imagine that this is the time where most illness is transmitted, given that a lot of people just stay home when they're sick.

'What's the exit criteria for masks, then, or are they a kind of forever fixture?'

The photos and footage from the 2-year Spanish flu pandemic very often show people wearing masks or scarves as face coverings (well, those I have seen recently). As others have pointed out, masks, lockdown/s and soap were basically the counter-measures that were available (e.g. other useful treatments that may be in the running now, were not). Although they had not been very widespread before that period, they were used and were then 'stood down' once the dangerous waves were over, and the need was less I assume.

As an aside, my DH has statistics for general sickness come through on a regular basis, not just in terms of an HR perspective but also because a large amount of that data relates to employees who work in care and sheltered housing with vulnerable people. The Covid statistics have followed the wider trend since March, though the lockdown has contributed to statistics for all other sickness being radically improved compared to other years. On that basis, it would suggest the lockdown measures have been having an effect, even on the potential reach of C-19.

The SE Asian approach of mask wearing was mostly a response to appalling smog levels, not that it helped with that either. But people like an easy, visible sign of action rather than actually addressing the problem.

But then people are self serving by default so I don't know what I expected really. I would wholeheartedly welcome compulsory masking, especially with so many careless idiots about. You're a disgrace

Nice, @Whataloadofshite

I have pronounced claustrophobia. I am having nightmares and panic attacks because of the mask. I still wear one whenever I run errands because I am not a bad person. There really isn’t any other way to say this. We are getting a clear visual flag about the character of every person we encounter.

I think it should be that you're made to wear a face covering in the shops unless medical reasons state otherwise.

I still wear one whenever I run errands because I am not a bad person. There really isn’t any other way to say this. We are getting a clear visual flag about the character of every person we encounter

Nonsense. Someone else could equally well say "I wear one whenever I run errands because I'm virtue signalling". Or "I wear one whenever I run errands because I don't want other people to think I'm a bad person and judge me". Or "I wear one when I run errands because I'm a fruit loop and think that the big bad virus is going to tap me on the shoulder and breathe on me in the yoghurt aisle".

All or none of these would tell you something about them as a person.

The hamster research in Hong Kong also shows that where masks are used the viral dose is lower, so presumably could lessen the severity?

I’ve been reading some accounts of people with C19, supposedly mild cases, no need for hospitalisation, and it still sounds awful, and for many people is taking weeks to recover from.

Mask wearing won’t be essential for ever, but as a preventative measure (up to 75% preventing others catching it from you, 35% preventing you catching it from others the study shows), it’s likely to become mandatory unless medically unable in order to help society start getting back to normal.

In western countries there has never been a need to research mask wearing, now it is I’m sure there’ll be more studies, but so far the few studies that there are show that masks are a good idea.

What about the asymptomatic incubation period?

I was referring to other respiratory diseases, which are mostly infectious during the symptomatic phase, unlike covid, which was one thing experts did not expect.

But it is because of that period that while covid is a major threat, it is important that everyone wears masks. Symptoms or no symptoms.

There will always be immune compromised people. Is it too much to ask that we all wear masks in public, forever, to help them out?

Is this a joke. Are you fucking mental. We've survived for thousands of years without wearing masks, I really don't think we suddenly need to start. And FYI, we'll all end up with shot immune systems if we don't continue normal social interactions.

My ds was immune compromised when he was a baby. I would never have expected the whole of society to engage in a practice that is both mentally and physically damaging for his benefit. It was up to me to manage his risk - not the world around me to change.

Actually, many cases of flu are asymptomatic - up to 50% in fact - spreading the virus but without ever becoming ill themselves (you know, all the people who post about never catching flu, those people!)

I read an article about masks earlier that referred to them as a 'risk ritual'. That's what it feels closest to for me, when I see and read your comments. Hence my link to it being the equivalent of the hail mary. You know the science isn't there for wearing an old cut up sock on your face, but that's not the point. It's the covid comfort blanket.

"We are getting a clear visual flag about the character of every person we encounter."
That's precisely what we don't get if someone is wearing a mask. We're missing most of their facial expressions which we would normally read both consciously and subconsciously to gauge their intent.