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

[feesh]

@CovidDetective

How can you wear a mask and have your hair done? I haven't seen any masks that stick to your face without requiring something to go round ears or back of your head. Which would get in the way of most hairdressing. Unless it's fringe cuts only? 🤔

I had highlights and a cut with a mask on last week. It was fine. It has absolutely zero impact on the whole process.

[BillywilliamV]

It's all to make it look like we have some kind of control over something that we have no kind of control over!
It is a psychological exercise!

[ShirleyB25]

Why in England do many people always have a "it'll never work" attitude, no matter what it is?

Exactly that.

It's like the government giving up with tracking and tracing early in the spread of Covid.

[bonsaidragon]

They actually defeat the purpose of wearing them as they can cause harm to yourself if carbon dioxide toxicity, caused by repeatedly breathing in your own exhaled CO2

Whilst I don't see this will be a problem, if co2 does buildup then you yawn more (co2 build up is the reason we yawn) and take in a big breath to release it and get more oxygen so it's not a great idea to wear a mask and let co2 buildup.

Slightly related, on the oak academy they have a 'lesson' about not hugging and a suggestion instead is to blow a kiss. Such a bad idea.

[Teawiththat]

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

Because then the government might actually to help provide them so they'd rather not. Hope that helps.

[Teawiththat]

Why in England do many people always have a "it'll never work" attitude, no matter what it is?

I don't know, but it's pathetic. There hasn't been this much but...but...but in other countries regarding it.

[NeurotrashWarrior]

One of the reasons Japan is coming out of this is because they're so hygienic and wear masks often anyway.

I found this cartoon the best explanation re masks.


www.ft.com/content/7a4ce8b5-20a3-40ab-abaf-1de213a66403

[NeurotrashWarrior]

The reason why we aren't to wear them in schools etc except for personal care is that they can potentially increase viral spread in those situations without all the other ppe. Face touching, taking on and off etc, in an enclosed environment.

The best control within the home and classroom is hand washing and hygiene, fewer people and ventilation. Face washing if you feel you've been sneezed on by a young child.

[DameFanny]

"Shallwedancetomojito

Next it will be mandatory face masks in the home too"

How ridiculous. Do you even convince yourself with that strawman?

[DameFanny]

I've just seen your other comments mojito, so no, you're not convincing yourself, you've just been reading the keyboard prophets who pride themselves on doing their own research, then you find out that means endless YouTube videos and antivax articles planted by bots.

@ActuallyItsEugene I'm sorry for your experience. Yes, you could pull up a top if there's enough of it and it would stay, or use a scarf or bandana?

[BigBreakfast]

@MadameButterface will yiu be providing the masks? What standard do you require?

[Uhoh2020]

For me the confusion lies with why now? If masks are that useful why were we told it made no difference when the spread of the virus was higher?

[raviolidreaming]

It makes me laugh seeing the ones driving alone in cars with face masks on, with the window up

I'm a nurse. If I give my colleague a lift home we both keep our masks on as we're in a confined space. After dropping her off, I keep mine on until I can remove it at a bin at home and wash my hands.

If people are wearing a mask to the supermarket, they are also as well to keep it on until they get home and can dispose of it safely and wash their hands.

I'm glad we're all of amusement to you, but next time you laugh at someone consider that perhaps they have a better concept of infection control than you do.

[MarshaBradyo]

Why in England do many people always have a "it'll never work" attitude, no matter what it is?

I don't know, but it's pathetic. There hasn't been this much but...but...but in other countries regarding it.

I know it is pathetic. Diatribes often.

[attackedbycritters]

why now?

Having a guess

In the very early days our government failed


Once we were in lockdown it's safer to insist on 2 meters and keep public transport quite empty . Think there were failures there too

Now they need or expect public transport to be more full and they hope that the british pubic has more idea now how to use masks (

Hope is stupid, there should be a mass education campaign.

For example, saying you can wear a scarf, yes, but they don't point out that if you are travelling back you will need a different scarf

[Mxflamingnoravera]

People with panic and anxiety may actually find it reduces when wearing a mask because of the slightly raised co2 levels in the blood. The classic "treatment" for panic is to breathe into a paper bag (nowadays it's 4,7,8 breathing) to get more CO2 into the blood. Panic attacks symptoms happen because there is too much oxygen in the system.

[MyDogPatch]

@Shallwedancetomojito I work on London Underground. I travel to work by bus and Tube. Most bus drivers taking me are wearing masks but it's been a personal choice up to now.

I don't like wearing masks because I wear glasses and have to constantly re-arrange the mask so that my glasses don't steam up. I work in a safety-critical role and being able to see is a basic safety requirement!

I am also wondering how this will be enforced. As someone running the station, I cannot physically stop anyone from entering said station to travel. I can advise, and bag and cajole, but if that person taps their Oyster on the reader and goes through, ignoring me, I have no powers to do a thing. The only people who can do that is the British Transport Police, who are so underfunded and understaffed it's a joke. They will not come out to a station just to tell someone they have to cover their face.

If any of my colleagues do decide to block people from entering without a face covering they risk a verbal or physical assault. We have been told for years not to block fare evaders to reduce staff assaults, and to report it on a data collection app we have. It will be the same for people refusing to cover their face.

[Saxineno]

Saw this on fb today. Haven't checked the science!

[MyDogPatch]

nag not bag

[DameFanny]

dogpatch have you tried a mask with a nose wire? You could even straighten a paperclip -or use 4 inches of pipe cleaner - and tape it to the top of the covering with something like KT tape or a fabric plaster. This would let you shape the mask under your glasses.

You can also put a thin film of soap on the glasses to stop them fogging up - I haven't tried this myself because the nose wire works.

[TreeTopTim]

If they are making it mandatory to wear masks are they going to be providing them free for everyone?

I have looked at getting one and from what I could find the decent ones are around £20. For them to be affective you would need to change them often so would need a few of them. Myself and many others wouldn't be able to afford that for myself and my family.

Or I could buy disposal ones that cost £4 for 4 in my local supermarket but you can't wear them all day. Once you take it off you shouldn't put it back on again. They last a short period of time because once they get wet they are useless.

[IncrediblySadToo]

I know this was posted earlier, but in case anyone missed it

[middleager]

Does anybody know how I can stop a mask from steaming up my glasses?

It's counterproductive otherwise as I can't see when glasses steam up, have to remove them, fiddle around with glasses and mask.

[YinuCeatleAyru]

@Shallwedancetomojito

It makes me laugh seeing the ones driving alone in cars with face masks on, with the window up.

it is safer to keep it on untouched once it is on, rather than taking it off and putting it on again. after doing my click&collect supermarket collection I usually have one or two other errands eg foodbank dropoff or post office - I will keep my mask on for the few minutes in between rather than faff around taking it off, finding a place to keep it clean, then re-fit it. obviously I don't give a monkey's what anyone else thinks.

[Teawiththat]

No @TreeTopTim, a face covering can be fashioned out of a scarf, t shirt, or a small amount of cotton and elastic if you're handy at sewing. For most people it doesn't have to cost them a penny.