How long will we need to wear face masks for?

[Dualipa]

Just wondering when people think wearing face masks will ease?

I don't want to start a whole "but the science says" however there seems to have been a lot of vocal resistance in England

The government has introduced it for 12 months. I think it will put people off, and it seems where people had relaxed a bit there all now "the virus is going to get me" again.

Facemasks aren't normal to us in England so it isn't normal and whilst things aren't normal people won't shop like they used to. And honestly some shops have treated people so bad in all of this, treating people like criminals or like biohazards they don't deserve to survive.
Boots spent weeks telling people to go away then went crying in the press of a sales downturn. Boohoo

I think we'll be stuck with them through the winter season. Hopefully not beyond.

I was made redundant and have been lucky to get a new job, it’s home working, that’s certainly been a huge factor in me taking it as I would rather wfh than wear a mask on public transport

@PinkFondantFancy

I think it'll either peter out in a few weeks when shops scream that spending is down, or it'll be here forever. They introduced it when your chances of catching CV are less than 1 in 5000, how much lower does it have to go before they remove it?? It's not something that's ever going to be eliminated, just like all the other viruses that circulate

Covid is only going to increase though once schools are back and more people back in offices over the next couple of months and back from their jet settling summer holidays.

Infection rates are currently low in the UK but globally the number of cases still rises substantially every day. Only a matter of time before our cases rise.

@SexTrainGlue

Richard Osman's tweet today:

'Everyone in shops in masks today which was lovely to see. Never be fooled by social media, we are a kind, classy and intelligent country when it comes to looking after each other. Respect to one and all'

Love this!

I'm guessing the spring. It's likely that winter will be problematic for virus control and unlikely to be coincidental that southern hemisphere countries tend to be struggling more than northern in their summer (unless they were exposed early like New Zealand) Spring saw significant declines across Europe despite variations in virus management. Plus this year we have an advantage on awareness and testing.

The DCs have their school shoes now. I can buy the rest of their uniform online. There's nothing else I need in the near future. I'll be swerving the high street, especially INTU.
Shame as I've been happily shopping and spending since mid-June.
I'll obviously have to endure the supermarkets. But if I do start having panic attacks, they seem to be reasonably accommodating to people having issues, plus I've been shopping late evening when queues and social distancing are total non-issues anyway, thus already safeguarding Joe Public from the disease that I haven't had to spread because contrary to reputation, I'm not actually a selfish disease spreading arsehole.

More militant measures have quietly crept away in weeks, such as isolation bins for browsed books, so most businesses will probably calm down rather than risk pushing customers away in fragile towns.

Yesterday, INTU already had several empty units since my last visit 16th March on top of the existing vacancies.

I went shopping yesterday, it was really busy and hardly anyone was wearing masks. Today I drove past a shopping centre, the car park was empty, there’s an M&S food and it’s usually busy, especially on a Friday.
If I know anything from this government the rules will change. I’m sad social distancing has disappeared.
Also I bet most of the people you see are wearing the same masks over and over again.

I think the law will change back at the first sign that the government can claim some sort of improvement (like the ‘quarantine’ rules).

But whether a social norm of wearing mask wearing linked to shame develops in the uk is another issue. I suspect it won’t take root, except on public transport where people are more likely to speak up in their own interest.

I think the plan is probably until spring so that people wear them through the winter months.

However, I suspect that some people will be put off going to shops so sales will decrease and therefore the govt will change their minds.

I won't be going out of my way to head to the shops now. I wear glasses all of the time and wearing a mask makes them steam up which is difficult. Fine that they have to be worn, but I will only be going into a shop if absolutely essential now.

Agree with pp who thinks it’s been done for economic reasons. Personally I feel happier going to a shopping centre wearing one and seeing others wearing them, so hoping it’ll be next spring and may need to wear them next winter (2021-22) if a successful vaccine hasn’t been rolled out by then.
Pre Covid I did most of my shopping online anyway so I’ll carry on that way, but am happy to wear mask in shops if I need to go into one (like to get DC’s school shoes or take something back) and I’ll probably wear one when I get my hair cut.

I think that now that I have some nice masks, and that wearing a mask is no longer weird, I'll probably wear one from now on if I'm out and have a cough or cold. It would feel inconsiderate not to.

Of course if it’s more that the sight of people in masks is triggering then that’s obviously difficult

It's a shit combination of the two. Haven't found a mask or visor I can cope with due to the trauma involving suffocation which led to me being diagnosed with PTSD but I also can't deal with men in them because I can't "read" them. Went to drive through McDonald's with the kids last week, they had a guy in a mask taking orders...had a massive panic attack, couldn't think straight, was awful. Just didn't feel safe and went full on fight or flight. The more common they become, the less places I can go.

The people who keep saying I hope it's for longer ect, really you like wearing a mask.

Up until now there hasn't been much mask-wearing where I am but I had to go to the high street twice today and it was very busy with everyone in masks. There were lots of teens out wearing them, which I was a little surprised by, but they seemed quite unfazed.

@HeresMe

The people who keep saying I hope it's for longer ect, really you like wearing a mask.

Not particularly but if it helps lessen transmission, makes others feel safer (inc staff in shops, bus drivers etc) and is a visual reminder re distance then it’s a small price to pay for that.

I really don't see the problem with masks. I don't think it will continue indefinitely, but hopefully will be in place until there is an effective treatment or a vaccine so that almost normality can continue. Lots of other countries have been mask wearing for months and people have just got on with it, what is wrong with us in the UK if we can't do the same? Surely we aren't that weak, we just need to get on with it too, unless of course we would rather be locked down forever instead!

I do just get on with it and don’t moan, but I dislike masks intensely. If I didn’t have to wear them I would not.

Until shops are even emptier..then the decision will be reversed. The Government will say the science has changed. Again.

@Raimona

You’re assuming masks have been introduced for health reasons. Actually it’s for economic reasons. The government wants to stimulate the economy by making people feel safe enough to return to shops. If it becomes apparent that masks are having the opposite effect and are actually putting people off going shopping, they’ll rapidly be discarded.

I think you've got it in one. I've just been on a Friday afternoon team call and 99% of them have said they're now switching to online, as they aren't going near shops now. We're doing everything online now, where we would have gone in to them before.

@LockdownsNo1Hater

I don't think it will. It'll go the same way as the so called lockdown. As the weeks went on, less bothered with it, so I can see masks going the same way. The Police aren't going to enforce it anyway

Devon and Cornwall Police have already come out and said they are going to do nothing about enforcing it

Cressida Dick seems to disagree with this and wants non-wearers shamed out of shops.

Cressida can disagree all she likes. It seems that there are more forces saying they won't be enforcing it and what she thinks doesn't have an impact on other forces.

She's short sighted saying that too, considering there are a proportion that can't wear them. She's as sensible as the idiot running the country.

Devon & Cornwall police are going for an educate and encourage approach before enforcing it. I don’t think they said they weren’t going to enforce it at all.

Well they have in a report in the local paper.

@PhilCornwall1

For all your talk of enforcement, I’ve seen 100% compliance when out today... For all the bluster of the anti-maskers, people seem pretty compliant. As with all things, once things have become the norm, it will become a non-issue.

It was the same up here @Derbygerbil when push came to shove pretty much everyone just got on and wore them

I’d love it if it was forever! Only because I am
very ugly, and it’s been lovely today not being judged on my appearance.

I have no idea. But I’m interested to see what the supermarket uptake is like next time I go. It seemed to be getting higher anyway at about half.