Well, well, well face masks mandatory on public transport now

[Cherryghost]

It's now mandatory to wear face mask on public transport with exceptions for disability, young children etc.
This should have been done ages ago.
They also admitting face masks offers some protection

@EnlightenedOwl

Of course we are done. Pandering to the hysteria was always going to take us down

And your post is just hysteria of a different sort. 🤦🏻‍♀️

@GreyGardens88

You!!!

This is how these things start...they start eroding at freedoms bit by tiny bit until...

Mind boggling

Any ol' piece of cloth crap will satisfy the rules.

Well your version of nice things is different to other people's

Well I’m far too beautiful to wear a mask - I’d be doing a disservice to my community if I had to cover my face 😂

I agree we only need 2/3 each at most. I wore one for the first time today and it was fine. When I got home I sprayed it with disinfectant on both sides and hung it in the sun to dry. I will use it again tomorrow and then wash it in a hot wash.

Luckily I don’t have any breathing difficulties because it was harder to breather through than I expected. For me it was quite bearable but I can see anyone with asthma might

It would literally take them less energy to do the right damn thing than come up with all these bogus ass reasons to avoid doing the right thing. It's sad.

Oh fuck off. I have ptsd diagnosed and treated by the NHS. I can not wear a mask because I can't cope with anything tight to my mouth and nose. I wish I could. I'd happily swap the experience which led to my ptsd and the subsequent effects it's had on my life with the ability to wear a mask. I hate the fact that even thinking about it has me sat here crying as I remember trying to breathe through his hand, thinking every tiny bit of air I sucked in was my last, that I was going to die.

That’s good to know my youngest especially with asd would not tolerate a face covering

For those asking, yes, you do have to wash them after every wear, and you need to remove them without touching anything else, store them somewhere like a sealed bag, wash hands immediately.

That's why they're not brilliant protection

If you don't want to wear one you have the option to drive/walk or ride a bike and maybe cab drivers will let you in without a mask.

If you want to get a bus or a train cover your face.

@Dinosauratemydaffodils I'm sure you dont need to wear one. Those who can, should. Those who think it's an infringement on their rights to cough with abandon, should check their thinking and then get a fucking scarf!

Well, I have been wearing a mask each time I go out to a shop - and gloves for that matter - and I'm amazed so few people do. I certainly would be wearing a mask on transport, I welcome this. Should have been a thing many weeks ago though.
It protects others rather than ourselves, but if everyone was wearing a mask, it would also help to protect us.....

@Underhisi

"My children would not be able to wear masks from what age is it mandatory"

The current guidelines suggest they may not be suitable for primary age children because they may not use them correctly.

Where I am, not in the UK, there are little kids wearing them and it's fine. And I'm talking about children as young as 2 years old wearing them. It's mandatory to wear them in retail spaces and on public transportation.

You have to wear a seatbelt even if it rumples your outfit or makes you sweaty

Yes, but that is to protect themselves, not other people. It probably makes a big difference.

@WanderingMilly

Well, I have been wearing a mask each time I go out to a shop - and gloves for that matter - and I'm amazed so few people do. I certainly would be wearing a mask on transport, I welcome this. Should have been a thing many weeks ago though. It protects others rather than ourselves, but if everyone was wearing a mask, it would also help to protect us.....

You shouldn't be allowed anywhere in enclosed space in public without a mask.

I’m asthmatic - how do I “prove” this when not covering my face?

So if the government decide to force you out of your house if you have suspected covid and put you into quarantine much like the scenes from Wuhan, you see no issue because it may slow down covid- a disease that won’t disappear- but you have no issue with that

@Dinosauratemydaffodils

It would literally take them less energy to do the right damn thing than come up with all these bogus ass reasons to avoid doing the right thing. It's sad.

Oh fuck off. I have ptsd diagnosed and treated by the NHS. I can not wear a mask because I can't cope with anything tight to my mouth and nose. I wish I could. I'd happily swap the experience which led to my ptsd and the subsequent effects it's had on my life with the ability to wear a mask. I hate the fact that even thinking about it has me sat here crying as I remember trying to breathe through his hand, thinking every tiny bit of air I sucked in was my last, that I was going to die.

Tut tut. Again, use your common sense. You're in possibly the 5% of the population which has a legitimate problem. This obviously doesn't apply to the folks who can't wear masks for specific medical or mental health reasons. If it doesn't apply, let it fly.

I'm in another country and we've had to wear masks in the shops, in places of worship, on public transport, in restaurants (when not actually sitting at the table eating) and in any enclosed public space.
From the 15th June the requirement is being dropped apart from on public transport. It would be beneficial to keep wearing them but this country wants to attract tourists for their summer holidays and they realized pretty quickly that people didn't want to be wearing masks in a hotel, at a swimming pool, in a museum etc.
No concern whatsoever about protecting the population - simply making sure tourists wouldn't be put off... our government basically got wind of the fact people were saying they wouldn't pay good money for a week in a hotel and having to wear facemasks.
So lo and behold facemask requirement gets dropped...
Our corona figures are way lower than the UK too.

I'll just share how things went here - and I think it'll go the same way in the UK.

1. At first free masks were handed out in supermarkets but since the first week no more free ones have been provided. Most people have made their own cloth ones which you can and should wash. The disposable ones are expensive and can only be used for a couple of hours before being rendered ineffective.
2. When the face masks were first made compulsory everyone was wearing them. Supermarket employees and people in other businesses were policing it. Police were called to a couple of incidents where people did not put one on when told to.
3. Slowly but surely people got pig sick of the bloody masks. They are difficult to breathe through. I know myself that I end up mouth-breathing and that is not healthy. I've been sticking to the rules but I can't say I'll be sorry to see the back of them in a few days time.
4. People started making noises on social media and on below the line comments on news websites. The masks are dangerous to health, ineffective etc. Our figures are so low why are we being made to wear them etc.
5. There was always a "get out" clause - those with health problems meaning a face mask could endanger their health further were excused - examples were people with serious lung conditions, severe asthmatics.
6. All of a sudden more and more people were ditching the masks and stating they had health problems when challenged about not wearing a mask. The government did not stipulate that people had to carry proof of their medical exemption so there was nothing any restaurant, supermarket worker etc. could do - and nor could the police.
7. Since the government announced they would be ditched from the 15th June most people have now ditched them completely. They keep reminding us in press conferences that we should be wearing them until the 15th June but they can't police it any more and I'd say 90% of people are not wearing them when they should be. There's also a lot of anger at the government for "forcing" us to wear masks and accept restrictions but as soon as tourists are allowed to come into the country all restrictions disappear....

The tide has turned here. Interesting that the UK is only just beginning the mask journey.

True @SoupDragon. Can we call them strap on hankies instead of masks? Sounds friendlier and makes the purpose clearer.

"Thank you for strapping a hanky to your face in the midst of a respiratory pandemic. Clearly your sneezes will now be better contained. Enjoy your civil liberties and assorted privileges."

It needs to be snappier but it's a start!

Fine with this, but my first thought was "oh no, I won't be able to drink coffee on the bus now". DH is still furloughed so has been driving me to and from work; I assume that's got to be ending soon so it will be back to buses for me.

Anyone know of good sources on the relative efficacy of a scarf/ random face covering vs an actual mask of fluid resistant grade?

I think this is to make people feel safer so they are more likely to go out and spend money. I don’t think it’s anything to do with the science.

I also think it is preceding a reduction in social distancing guidelines from 2 to 1m.

I don’t disagree with either of those things.

@BirdieFriendReturns

I’m asthmatic - how do I “prove” this when not covering my face?

you can order a badge that says 'I'm asthmatic', I got one a couple of weeks ago - it's given me a bit of peace of mind. I've been trying to get used to wearing a silk scarf round my face anyway, bit it's still been quite warm recently and sometimes I need to air my chops!

@Comefromaway

I agree with this but it's going to make it difficult for ds to get to college if college is open in September. He has tried wearing one but it causes him to have a panic attack.

But that's our problem, no-one else's.

I think it's because from then you will be breaking the law by not doing so - giving people time to adjust