I still don't understand the face coverings thing.

[BigBreakfast]

Is seems like, again, the government has gone with public pressure rather than what will actually make a difference.

The WHO says only people with illness or those caring for them should wear masks.

In all other cases, whilst it may offer some protection to those around us, it actually increases the risk to the wearer because if someone with the virus breathes near you, the droplets are "caught" by the mask and therefore spend much more time close to your face.

Also, all these people buying pretty homemade masks etc, there's no point having one mask. They need to be changed frequently, if you're to avoid increasing the risk to yourself. Always once damp, which will be quite quickly, as you breathe. And you mustn't touch them, which will surely be nigh on impossible.

Plus, they're expensive. C. £5. If you need a few each, in a family, that's quite an expense at a time when we know many families are struggling.

I'd wear one to protect others but I'm not comfortable doing it in the knowledge that increases the risk to me, which is what Jenny Harries previously told us it would do.

WHO

[TinnedPearsForPudding]

Hopefully this will encourage some people to take better care of their oral hygiene when they become aware of their own bad breath inside a mask!

[MintyMabel]

they can cause harm to yourself if carbon dioxide toxicity, caused by repeatedly breathing in your own exhaled CO2.

And yet many professions use them every day with no issues of CO2

[Floatyboat]

I can’t understand the resistance some people have to wearing masks. It’s bizarre to reject it when the countries who have made it mandatory have lower transmission rates than us. Why do people think that we are different?.

You've summed it up pretty well

[Shallwedancetomojito]

Finland have never introduced mandatory face masks, with zero cases. Then there's other countries with strict mandatory face mask rules and the masks are not even helping.

And why the mandatory face masks for the UK now, when we are easing the lockdown. Why not make face masks on public transport mandatory three months ago?

They've got it all back to front.

[Cornettoninja]

The WHO only started discouraging face masks in this pandemic when PPE was running short. It’s been part of their approved advice for public measures regarding SARS and MERS for years.

You’ll notice countries with experience of SARS, MERS and tuberculosis took no notice of their announcement (and have the figures to back up that was the right course of action to take).

One of the things we do know about covid is you can carry it and be infectious without realising so there’s no value in people self determining whether they’re ‘healthy’ or not, they could be infected, one of the lucky ones who barely notice but still highly infectious to those around them.

I’m baffled that as a nation we’re so quick to dismiss measures that have clearly worked in countries with experiences with SARS. Is it a point of pride or something?

[MadameMarie]

It's to send a message to a complacent population to take this seriously.

Conga street parties, packed out parks and beaches, protesters unashamedly ignoring social distancing and turning up in their thousands.

[user1487194234]

The advice appears to be put it on and then don't touch it
So put it on before you leave the house,wear it in car to and from supermarket ie when in car ,take off when home
Think the guidance on face coverings could be clearer

[Shallwedancetomojito]

Put your hand over your mouth and what do you get?

[ScribblyGum]

Face coverings for the public: Laying straw men to rest

[Marpan]

The sneering attitude of some towards people in masks will Put people off wearing them.

[peajotter]

I think there’s also a strong sociological reason for introducing them now. The “soft sciences” also have input! People, myself included, are starting to relax and get back to normal. Masks remind us to keep our distance if possible, be aware.

Also of course the not infecting others thing!

[feesh]

For gods sake. I wear one every day (I live in a very hot country where they’re compulsory) and they’re FINE. They don’t get wet. You can wear one for 8 hours if you need to (and it’s 40 degrees here today). It’s not the end of the fucking world if you touch it - you’re not in a medical setting where aerosolising procedures are being carried out. Get over yourselves and just bloody wear one.

If you’re unconvinced, look at the Edinburgh study which just came out which showed that any type of face covering reduced virus transmission.

[BirdieFriendReturns]

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/metro.co.uk/2020/05/19/people-asthma-shouldnt-wear-face-masks-experts-warn-12723945/amp/

[thenamesarealltaken]

There is a huge difference to a health professional standing over a patient compared with a person walking, cycling, running around, etc. There are issues wearing masks, and that's why asthmatics don't need to wear them. But, many people are fine with them, eg just sitting on a bus or train, a short walk, then sitting again, say at work. Just not good for more people who are wearing it for long periods of activity, especially intense exercise.

[DameFanny]

The only reason we weren't told to wear them back in March is because there weren't enough for the NHS, and we don't yet have a culture ofl buying or wearing non medical ones. They protect us - mine protects your, yours protects me.

And anyone repeating the carbon dioxide idiocy needs to get themselves checked for existing oxygen deprivation. Honestly.

[Shallwedancetomojito]

The scientific case for wearing masks is weak.
Matt Hancock April 28th

Face coverings will be mandatory on all public transport.
Grant Shapps June 4th

Right okay. Still confused 🤷🏻‍♀️

[feesh]

I’m asthmatic and wear one every day. They don’t affect my asthma at all.

[Tdaadfb100]

I live i Asia ( am in the U.K. at the moment). Please don’t overthink it and worry too much.
Wear it in crowded places, buses etc then just pull it down away from your nose when no one is around to get some fresh air. Simples.

[Shallwedancetomojito]

What about people with hidden disabilities who suffer from Anxiety and panic attack's. What are they supposed to do?
It's probably a big enough ordeal for them to be using public transport, never mind covering their nose and mouth too.

[LangClegsInSpace]

Keep up!

If you follow WHO advice you should be watching the press briefings.

They talked about face coverings yesterday, as they have done on several previous occasions. If you had been watching the briefings you would know that their advice on the use of face coverings in the general community has been under review for a while and they will be releasing new guidance in the next few days.

They are cautious of issuing a straightforward recommendation because they fear that some countries will just recommend or mandate face coverings instead of doing all the other things which are also necessary to control this virus.

And when they talk about countries which might take this shitty negligent approach they mean the UK among others.

(If the link doesn't start at the right place go to 34:36)

In general, face coverings in any busy public place are a good idea and you should wear one if you can because if you have the virus you will be infectious for a while before you show any symptoms and even the most makeshift face covering catches a lot of droplets.

However there are two dangers:

1) The government is let off the hook on all the other measures like social distancing and like test, trace, isolate, because everyone's wearing a mask so we are told it's all fine. It's not fine. Everyone is being Very Strongly Encouraged back to work but many low paid workers will be returning to workplaces that do not adequately protect them from infection and/or their journey to and from work is not safe.

2) Disabled people are shat on yet again. Shiney eyed minister for cars, planes and bicycles said tonight that there would be exemptions for people with disabilities and respiratory issues but there were no details on how this would work.

Will disabled people who are unable to wear a mask be faced with questions every time they attempt to board a bus? Will they be protected from their fellow travellers who might have strange ideas about what rights disabled people should have during this pandemic? Will disabled people be told if they can't wear a mask they should stay indoors so they are not a burden on the economy or the NHS?

[venetianblue]

Get over yourselves and get a mask face covering on.

England is not superior to most of Asia and most of Europe, there they got this eons ago.

Why - apart from the authorities poo-pooing them and actively knocking them - is England so anti-mask ? All the whining and blokiness ? It may be the whole ´just take a paracetamol and get on with it’ healthcare attitude.

Ok so this has exposed a crumbling nhs which is dying, and state school teachers/unions who won’t pull all the stops out (even in this emergency situation) to teach secondary students live online. But the least we can do is to mask up cos we’re well on the way to having the highest death rate in the world. We are told it’s world-beating but the world is looking at us running around unmasked and at our stats, and it is a complete embarrassment and a tragedy.

[JassyRadlett]

Where we see pictures of people wearing them in the Far East, it is where they themselves have symptoms (of cold or flu). Healthily people don't wear them routinely.

It’s almost as if we’re dealing with a virus where a significant number of people have no symptoms.

This is sensible, low impact and if it helps to loosen some of the much more damaging restrictions then let’s get on with it.

[JassyRadlett]

Why - apart from the authorities poo-pooing them and actively knocking them - is England so anti-mask ? All the whining and blokiness ? It may be the whole ´just take a paracetamol and get on with it’ healthcare attitude.

I also wonder if a healthy dose of of unconscious racism and British exceptionalism is involved.

[Shallwedancetomojito]

I bet a lot of people will be dusting off their old inhalers in the back of their drawers right now.

[Whatelsecouldibecalled]

I’m slightly confused. Announce mandatory on public transport but we have been told specifically NOT to wear them in schools, nurseries etc. How is this different?