Does anyone think masks will become the new normal?

[Chaosreigns123]

Even after the virus is gone/there is a vaccine?

Once we go down this route of masks being widely used in public.

Already we're hearing more and more how if you don't wear a mask you're killing people, selfish, putting others at risk.

Ok right now I think most of us want to see the back of this virus, but I'm no longer sure where the government are going with this. Are we going for elimination in England? Even if we get a vaccine it's likely not everyone will be eligible, or it will be yearly and the virus will still be circulating.

Will people devise masks are a good idea to protect against other viruses?

I hope not. If/when the virus is eliminated then I will no longer wear one.

I expect we will become more aware of how viruses are transmitted and wear masks in public when we have a cold in order to not give it to others, like happens in China.

Maybe it will become more common to wear one when you've got a cold, like they do in Asia, but I doubt it. I think it's more part of the Asian culture of politeness.

If we ever get a vaccine and we can go back to so-called normal, I think we should take note of Japan as many people wear masks to help with allergies or if they have a cold etc in winter. It's just sensible/courteous to want to protect other people.

Not with the amount of moaning and groans I've heard about them and it isnt even mandatory in England yet so as soon as the " rule" is lifted people wont wear them again.

Not sure where the devise came from it was supposed to say decide.

I suppose I'm thinking that COVID-19 might never be completely gone.

Then I'm thinking about flu (which I'm not comparing to COVID), but flu does still kill people.

I've always been very careful about not going near an elderly grandparent, or a pregnant friend, if I've got a cold or I'm under the weather. My grandma died of a virus which turned to pneumonia last year, I suppose someone gave it to her and it killed her.

No

I'm concerned about the masks. It's not because I don't care about protecting others.

It's more I'm worried that most people don't use them correctly and it will cause more harm than good.

The disposable ones will be terrible for the environment. The reusable ones would need to be washed after every use and put on correctly, not touching the face part.

Wash hands before putting it on and taking it off etc.

As I understand it, countries where mask wearing was already quite common it’s considered the polite thing to do if you have a cold/cough. I’d be interested to know if their general sickness rates are lower.

Goodness no! I hope not!!

How would somebody not using them correctly cause more damage ? I agree the disposal ones are terrible for the environment but I think global pandemic kind of out ranks that atm. It isnt hard if you are going into john Lewis or Boots put your mask on when you're outside take it off.

You can isolate masks and wear them on rotation you don't have to wash them all the time. we were advised to wear face coverings in March lots of people chose not to so here we are btw it is a face covering nobody has actually said a mask you can wrap a scarf round.

Mrsjay I think they could cause more harm because if the wearer keeps touching their face to adjust the mask, or doesn't wash the mask, stores it incorrectly, or touches the mask a lot. They could infect themselves.

I looked at the WHO guidance for correctly using a mask, I don't believe that most people will do that.

It's more I'm worried that most people don't use them correctly and it will cause more harm than good

I genuinely believe that even accounting for a decent percentage of poor use there’s a benefit in the context of disease spread. The alternative is no attempt at all at containing individual people’s particles which in enclosed areas, even with social distancing, is a real concern.

Even a mask worn stupidly below someone’s nose prevents them coughing and projecting particles further than they would through normal breathing. That will still have an impact on how much they can transmit (I’m not advocating or defending people who do this btw just pointing out that it still reduces one of the ways they could potentially transmit an infection).

I saw an article yesterday where two hairdressers in America (New York I think) tested positive for covid and out of 139 clients nobody reported any symptoms and out of the 60+ who agreed to testing not one tested positive. The hairdressers were wearing masks and it’s thought one infected the other when they took their masks off for breaks.

Not sure. But it's been bliss to not have a cold/chest infection/sore throat for the whole of lockdown! I'm immunocompromised and pick every bug up

I would quite happily wear one if I had a cold but the reason we’re having to wear them now, although the rate of infection is currently low, is that we could be asymptomatic. Surely we could be asymptotic of flu or any other infectious disease at any given time so logically we should all be wearing masks forever more.

But you can't guarantee people wont touch their face or not wash their hands or whatever without a mask on,imo it adds a layer of protection and gives a physical reminder not to touch your face. We are now living in a covid world whether we like it or not so for now I do think we should adhere to guidelines and law where we can , I don't think people will be still wearing masks this time next year though.

I have zero intention of spending the rest of my life wearing a mask over my face whenever I'm outside my own home. Zero.

I don't think this virus will ever 'go' - how would we (the public) ever know anyway?! We can't even trust the infection and fatality figures that are being produced as they come from so many different sources and are ambiguous at best. I think that the current mask wearing 'Rules' will become so ingrained in everyone's way of life that we will all forget how to not wear them and will just do it out of habit.

" I think they could cause more harm because if the wearer keeps touching their face to adjust the mask, or doesn't wash the mask, stores it incorrectly, or touches the mask a lot. They could infect themselves"

Out of curiosity @chaosreigns123, what do you think people will be infecting themselves with? What will be on a mask that wouldn't otherwise be directly on a face?

Damefanny we've been repeatedly told not to touch our face whilst out and about because if we pick up the virus on our hands, then touch our face we can infect ourselves.

So if a mask isn't used in quite a sterile way, is handled, placed on surfaces, then put over the mouth and nose, it could infect you.

I haven't just dreamt this up out of my head, we've been told this at daily briefings, I've also seen several doctors on tv saying the same.

I won't be spending the rest of my life in a mask, no way.

I will comply with the obligation for the period required but as soon as I can throw the blasted things away I will do so!

I think many, including me, will move on immediately and never want to see one again

Or wear one rather. I might see one.

But I’ll be so happy when it’s over (if I suppose)

As I say I'll have to comply, but I just wonder as blobby says, will it be one so ingrained in people it will become socially unacceptable not to do it all the time.

I mean you could potentially be infecting someone with a virus/bug anytime that could kill them.