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

[Shallwedancetomojito]

@DameFanny im not saying that people shouldn't wear masks on buses or shops, if thats what they feel to do.

The link was specifically left for joggers. There's a few joggers around where I reside who wear masks, some people don't.

[NaturalBornWoman]

@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?

Because you were supposed to stay in, not mingle with others from outside your household and stay at least 2m away from anyone outside. Now more people are going to be out and about and 2m may be more challenging. How is this in any way confusing?

[SudokuBook]

But they could have been introduced before lockdown when we were all just being told to wash our hands and sing happy birthday

I’m unconvinced. Smacks of tokenism to me and yet another example of how quickly the sheep will roll over and do what the government says without engaging in any kind of critical thinking.

[Shallwedancetomojito]

@SudokuBook

I hear you. It's alarming how many people just take everything they are told on the chin.
It's like nobody has their own mind anymore.

[DameFanny]

@SudokuBook the government shot itself in the foot by but having enough masks for healthcare workers, so they couldn't recommend everyone else wear one because that would have made resources even scarcer. They have more PPE now, and non medical face masks are becoming more available, so they can recommend them to people.

Gods know what @Shallwedancetomojito is on about, actively wanting people to avoid protecting themselves and other people is not a good look. It seems to be getting more common though, and weirdly connected to the more fringe 'wellness' loons -
www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/jun/05/wellness-advocates-used-to-talk-about-bali-trips-and-coconut-oilnow-its-bill-gates-and-5g

[feesh]

@Tumbleweed101

Are there any Type/brand of masks in particular that are better to wear with glasses to stop them steaming up? That’s my own real issue with wearing one.

I had this trouble, so now I fold the top over. I use the surgical masks.

[Tumbleweed101]

Thanks to the couple posters who have said about wearing with glasses. I will experiment with the top part of the mask. It’s a home made one so possible the fit isn’t so tight over the top. I haven’t actually needed to use it yet while out as not been into town and getting shopping delivered but that was my initial experience when testing it out. Want to have it right for when I do have to use it otherwise I’ll be one of the people fiddling with it all the time lol. Not overly keen on wearing them as I don’t like the feeling of things on my face, not keen on hats and scarves either but it’s looking like we may have to soon.

[TwilightPeace]

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.

So true.
Why should I have to do something minor and simple to help protect other people? I’m special don’t ya know?

[BigBreakfast]

If it was just that they probably make little difference but they may help prevent me spreading it, of course it would make sense to wear one but everything we have been told up to now suggested that wearing them, other than proper PPE in a clinical setting, increases the risk to the wearer.

[Davincitoad]

Who now says everyone in public places. Whigers bore off and just accept the faster we stop the spread the faster we are back to normal

[DameFanny]

What everything we've been told up to now? Yes some people are saying you might touch your face more - but that's just a question of training yourself to put it on and adjust it right - and maybe tie your hair back. It's like hand washing - done wrong it won't help, done right it makes a huge difference.

Again, the only reason we weren't told to wear masks at the beginning is that there weren't even enough for health care workers - who are now panicking again because the government have told everyone to wear a face covering if they attend hospital, and of course if you rock up barefaced they'll have to give you one of theirs.

The carbon dioxide thing? Absolute bollocks. You don't see surgeons passing out in long surgeries do you? Ever rented a floor sander? Hard work that you have to wear a mask for but nobody would ever tell you not to.

And the face covering doesn't get saturated in ten minutes whoever said that. Use your brain again. Fucking surgeons and nurses operate for hours.

This is just rank fuckwittery being promoted by people who've been reading the likes of David Icke.

Cover your face in public - unless you've got a medical reason not to (and I of course include psychological reasons in that) - and save other people's lives.

Finally, people saying you have to treat the mask so carefully when you take it off that you might as well not bother? Have you thought that one through? If you really think putting a mask in a bag until it can be washed them washing your hands is so onerous, how on earth do you cope with changing your knickers?

If you think the outside of a mask is so dangerous to touch, aren't you glad whatever's in there didn't get to your mouth and nose (now wash your hands)

If you think there's no point because covid's just a bad cold - I don't care what you think, I've no interest in validating your stupid choices, but cover your stupid face anyway.

[SudokuBook]

So 3 months ago when the world and his dog had the virus, they wouldn’t have helped.

Now when you are more likely to bump into Lord Lucan riding Shergar than someone with the virus, they’re sooooo important or PEOPLE WILL DIE.

Why are people just blindly going along with this doublethink?

[DameFanny]

@sudokubook BECAUSE 3 MONTHS AGO WHEN THEY WOULD HAVE HELPED THERE WEREN'T EVEN ENOUGH MASKS FOR THE PEOPLE WORKING ON COVID WARDS

It's not double think - it's an incompetent government who ran down pandemic preparation and is still trying to pretend that they've been following the science. Doesn't make the science wrong.

[WotsitWiggle]

The virus hasn't gone away. There are infectious people in the UK. As we start to move about, we are more likely to come into contact with someone with the virus. Science tells us some people are asymptomatic and others can spread it before showing symptoms. Therefore, to help reduce the spread, cover your nose and mouth in public IN ADDITION to socially distancing and hygiene measures.

The more protection we have against spreading the virus, the sooner it will die it in this country.

[JacobReesMogadishu]

I have a suspicion Jennifer Harries was full of shit when she said wearing a mask increases your personal risk. The govt wanted to make sure people didn’t panic buy them at a time when they were struggling to provide hospitals, etc with ppe.

[PestymcPestFace]

SudokuBook do you really believe that each day another 1,650 Lord Lucans saddle up and ride Shergar around the streets of the UK?

As of May 2020, 88% of the world's population lived in countries where their government and leading disease experts recommended the use of masks in public places to limit the spread of COVID-19.
A few more since then.

Daily cases have not returned back down to the level of three months ago. How about we all take some personal responsibility and do a little extra.

[Davincitoad]

@DameFanny 👍👍👍👍👍

[DameFanny]