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!

[PumpkinP]

I don’t want to because I don’t want to make one, if they were being provided then I probably would but I’m rubbish at making anything and I don’t care how easy people claim it is, I don’t want to make one. I would have to make 5 for myself and my children. And before anyone suggests wearing a scarf etc I tried that and could barely breathe

[Toddlerteaplease]

I have to wear one for 12 hours a day at work. I don't want to wear one on my days off.

[ragged]

[masks] are worn to protect others, not the wearer.

@BarbaraBeez, can you link to the source you have for that info? I hear it a lot, but I don't know what the reliable information is to support it.

[Legoandloldolls]

I only have my home made mask ( I have building p3 masks but only six I am keeping them.in case the kids get admitted into hospital).

I wear my mask based on my own risk assessmen. So I dont go shopping much anymore and if the shop is quite i dont feel the need. Its bloody hard to breath in it. Mine is a good fit as I made it and it was metal to fit my nose. Next time I go food shopping I will, it's only really needed in shops.

Also i made my mask. Probably cost me less than a pound in materials but not everyone has access to this kind if thing? I sew as a hobby and have a seeing machine

[Bunnymumy]

Ragged, they say it on the bbc/ITV news 24/7 so probably pretty reliable.

[hauntedvagina]

Because I'd put a full face of makeup on today and didn't want to ruin it with a mask. When I'm makeup free I'm quite happy to wear a mask

[YounghillKang]

Northernsoullover exactly! Having worked in Hong Kong, Singapore and similar countries where people routinely wear them when unwell, and have done for years, I don't get the fuss about wearing them. I wear glasses too, and if you fold the top part of the face covering over the top of your nose to form a double layer, they don't steam up. Just a case of experimenting, I have some made by a friend, a snood that can be pulled tight, various large scarves and some of the Hype ones. Far from making me fiddle with my face they make me more conscious of my nose/mouth and am less likely to do so...But it's interesting isn't it the government did so well in their efforts to debunk them presumably because - unlike a lot of other places - they can't be arsed to issue any, that the recent message that they're worth wearing isn't working! At the very least the woman who sneezed into her hand when I was waiting in line for the chemist, and then opened the door with the same hand, would have sneezed into her face covering. And a sneeze can cover a lot further than 2 metres, queue or no queue.

[helpfulperson]

Because I think that they cause more problems than they solve, especially where 2m is achievable. I might wear one on a busy tube but in a supermarket I'll just keep away from people.

[Myimaginarycathasfleas]

I wear one, OP, also gloves. The virus needs to inhabit people to survive. The more we do to stop passing it around the more chance there is that it will die out. Other European countries have cottoned onto this, we haven't yet.

I felt self conscious at first but got over that quickly. I'm just trying to do my bit in the hope that if people see others wearing masks, they might follow suit.

However it's a free country and until the government makes it compulsory everyone is entitled to make their own choices.

[felineflutter]

I cannot understand it either OP, but then, I'm working with people who are Covid positive, so maybe that makes a difference.

[cyclingmad]

They are ineffective unless you have the correct type.

[PerfidiousAlbion]

I bought one from Etsy for 20 odd pounds. It arrived stinking of fabric conditioner which despite three washes, Ive been unable to get rid off. its also cut too low under the eyes and too deep at the nose so slips down my face so I’m forever yanking it up/fiddling with it. I now go without.

[SmileyClare]

There is evidence that a face mask protects others if your are cv positive (even unknowingly).

However, there is evidence that unless the mask is a properly fitted official PPE mask then you are slightly more at risk by wearing one. Air takes the path of least resistance so is drawn in around the edges of the mask.

A fabric mask quickly becomes warm and damp. These are ideal conditions for a virus and the fabric retains the virus on it's surface.
So a home made or basic face covering protects others rather than offering much self protection.

That risk would be mitigated if everyone had to wear and mask. I think they should be compulsory on the tube.

Other than that, it's a choice, there are pros and cons.

[Whataloadofshite]

Because people are selfish shits. Everyone saying here that they don't want to - I do wonder if you wouldn't want to wear a ventilator either, or object to someone you love wearing one.

But yeah. Go ahead and don't bother eh?

Twats, the lot of you.

[cologne4711]

You don't need a medical grade one, just pull a scarf over your face when in the supermarket. You don't need to wear one outside.

[onemouseplace]

Firstly, because I ordered some first class post 3 weeks ago, just as our postal service went non-existent, and they still haven't arrived.

And DH forgot to take his face covering out with him when he went to the chemist today because he is a forgetful twat.

[SmileyClare]

What annoys me is the number of masks and gloves discarded by customers in our tescos car park. Left in trolleys, blowing around, on benches and so on.

[Weallhavevalidopinions]

Well done you for wearing a mask. 👏 Here's your medal 🥇

Lots of reasons given why others don't. It's not compulsory.

YOU think it should be compulsory but it isn't. Lots of reasons why - people touch them constantly, not proven to help etc etc etc - many given already.

Why do so many people come on here and slag off others for not doing what they are doing even if it isn't mandatory?

[BamboozledandBefuddled]

I don't wear one because my anxiety is through the roof and affects my breathing, which then makes my asthma worse. Even the government's advice is that they shouldn't be worn by people with breathing difficulties but I wouldn't expect the average outraged Mumsnetter to realise that.

The only impact mask wearing has had round here is that social distancing has declined in direct proportion to the increase in masks. Apparently wearing masks also means it's safe for families to hunt in packs in supermarkets.

[Lordamighty]

@Northernsoullover-I will give that a try.

[ragged]

they say it on the bbc/ITV news 24/7 so probably pretty reliable

I wanted, you know, a scientific study maybe?
Not blaming PP, just that a journo could say the moon is made of cheese - doesn't make it true.

There is evidence that a face mask protects others if your are cv positive

@SmileyClare, that's great. Can you link to the evidence?

[dementedpixie]

I dont have one and dont own a scarf either. Dh has ordered some so we're waiting for them to arrive

[SpringBlossomIsBeautiful]

@Whataloadofshite - yes we are all selfish twats 😂😂😂 what a load of shite

[VenusTiger]

I've read that they only protect outwards and not inwards by 95% - if you cough or sneeze, particles can still escape through the gaps whereas if you sneezed into a tissue or your arm, you're less likely to throw particles into the air. Then there's the fact that they need to be of a certain grade, and you have to throw them away after each use, as you're contaminating them with your hands.
I also don't believe people wear them to "protect others" @FergusComeLately call me cynical, but if you think you have it, stay home, if you think you're asymptomatic, stay home - I think peoplel wear them because it makes them feel safer.

[LudaMusser]

I wore one in Lidl about two weeks ago for maybe three minutes but it was one DH had bought for paint spraying and never used. It was horrendous, too OTT

We've since bought a pack of five medical grade ones Incase they become compulsory. You should wear glasses if you really want to protect yourself as well as a mask

A mask is to stop the wearer from spreading germs. If you wear a mask without eye protection you're not doing the full job as a virus can enter through your eyes too