How long will we need to wear face masks for?

[Dualipa]

Just wondering when people think wearing face masks will ease?

It’ll be interesting to see how it affects flu cases if at all. I think I’d read somewhere that flu transmission isn’t as much of a problem because it’s a short incubation period and people are ill and not going out right away, unlike Covid where people without symptoms are spreading it.

Hopefully only a week or two.i won't be going to the shops unless desperate as I think this is all pointless now. I had to wear one at the hair salon and that was shit. At least I don't have to go there again for another couple of months.

Retail will die. Who the hell wants to go for an afternoon out at a shopping mall breathing in their own hot muggy breath?

I've stockpiled groceries, cleaning stuff, loo roll etc so I'll only need to go and buy fresh veggies when absolutely necessary. I will order other items online such as decorating equipment which I will need soon and some furniture.

Not happy about it at all.

I would imagine until at least next spring to get through the usual flu season and the potential second wave of Covid cases. I’ve worn a mask in other countries so not really a problem. Looking forward to shopping tomorrow with less people around if all those stay at home who say they are. Will mean shopping is much safer for those of us out shopping.

People need to stop being selfish and if they can , wear a mask. It’s not forever and might help save some lives and get us back to normal quicker.

@TheMurk

No hospital admissions since 12 July, current infection rate is around 1 in 13000 in Scotland. In total a current pool of 400 infectious people in a population of 5.45 million. It IS over.

Scotland’s infections are back at the levels they were around January/early February, which is great. Then by mid-March it was out of control....

It was perhaps understandable not to appreciate what was on the horizon back in January/February (even though what was occurring in China should have warned us), but to make the same mistake again, and with such confidence, is insane.

Look at Australia..... Lower numbers per head of population than Scotland a few weeks back, and now cases have increased 30-40 fold!

We should relax restrictions where we can, but we need to remain cautious, or it will come back. It IS NOT over. I really wish it was, as it’s crap, but it’s not.

@TheMurk

...are people going to get flu and COVID at the same time now? Or concurrently? Or are the people who don’t get covid getting flu and vice versa? Please.

My understanding is that you are unlikely to suffer from the two simultaneously as they interact with each other to prevent this. However; there would be nothing to stop you getting them in succession though if exposed to the viruses.

Hopefully only a week or two.

There’s wishful thinking.... and then there’s “wishful thinking”

To all those saying for ever!!! Was it forever after the Spanish flu ? Or Asian flu?

@OLGADEEPOLGA

I know this might sound ridiculous but I would feel a lot better about wearing one if we had been given some idea of for how long. I really don't want mask wearing to become the norm.

This

We'll be wearing masks until the fearful ones get used to being out and about again 🤷‍♂️

21:51 userxx

We'll be wearing masks until the fearful ones get used to being out and about again 🤷‍♂️

Or conversely it will continue ad infinitum because people will realise it’s really not a big deal (exemptions excluded), that it’s a decent thing to do for other people and the majority of us will continue voluntarily as in many, many other countries.

@Itsarattrap

21:51 userxx

We'll be wearing masks until the fearful ones get used to being out and about again 🤷‍♂️

Or conversely it will continue ad infinitum because people will realise it’s really not a big deal (exemptions excluded), that it’s a decent thing to do for other people and the majority of us will continue voluntarily as in many, many other countries.

I won’t be. As soon as they’re not compulsory I won’t be wearing them any more. I wear them now and just get on with it but no intention whatsoever of doing so permanently if I have the choice.

I think for a year but it gets reviewed in 6 months.

I’m exempt but can see the many flaws and confusion for those having to wear masks. It’s not compulsory in the cinema but in a shop it is. You can walk round a museum without one on but if you got to the museum shop you have to wear it. I think what they’re saying lacks substance.

I don't think this will increase people visiting shops more the opposite.

I'm fine wearing a mask when just popping into a shop but I'd probably pass out in this heat wearing one for a long time in shopping centre etc. So I just won't be going!

I won't be alone with this view.

I was thinking this and also with norovirus, that’s pretty brutal and is so rapid. My thinking is that most people won’t be handling masks correctly or in a hygienic way so I think transmission won’t necessarily improve. will people be washing hands thoroughly, touching masks, touching trolleys etc is still contaminating. a handbag or pocket is no place for a mask.

I wouldn’t be too adverse to it being a permanent feature tbh.
When I worked for an international airline the passengers from Japan and Korea would wear face masks on the flight. Oh how I used to laugh who’s the fool now? Being in a confined space I do think you’re more likely to pick bugs up.

Honestly if the high street doesn’t pick up they will be gone soon enough.

But Longdistance as we are repeatedly told it isn’t about protecting the wearer

Probably a year or two.

Those crying they won’t go to the shops now.. do you realise that the Shielding, borderline vulnerable and anxious and others having been to shops for five months?!

We will go to the shops now it’s safe as I would have if we’d followed the rest of the world months ago

Long distance

On a flight their mask protects you. Especially with recycled air.

You don’t protect them.

Who’s the foolish one?

All the women on here boasting of not wearing masks for others health.

How would you feel if you rented a car with no seatbelt it child seats. Would you complain

Or your partner refused to wear protection. Would you complain?

Or the zebra crossing on your just road was taken away do you could cross at your free will?

Who on this thread is “boasting” about not wearing a mask?

Sadly mask wearing does not appear to be a visual reminder about distancing

Social distancing broke down weeks ago here unless in a setting with clear markings

Who knows?

Depends partly on whether the government are doing it for health reasons or economic.

Could be all throughout winter. Could be until there's a vaccine. Could become the new norm (I hope not).

Mumsnet seems to be heavily swayed towards masks. But when I've been to the supermarket before yesterday, hardly anyone was wearing one. If they wanted to they would wouldn't they?

I went to Asda yesterday, most people were wearing them as it was the new law, but many were quite vocally pissed off about it. Lots had scarf pulled up over their face and I saw a few visors. Even 3 shop staff were saying how ridiculous it was.

Popped to the retail park afterwards, shops were dead.

So could depend on whether footfall increases or not.

Will also depend on whether it helps drive cases down.

I'm also prepared that we are being eased into having to wear them in restaurants, cinemas, pubs.

We've been told for months that masks don't do any good. I predict that people will stop bothering before long a bit like with lockdown.

In total a current pool of 400 infectious people in a population of 5.45 million. It IS over.

Just did a bit of maths on this... If we all went back completely to normal, and R rose to, say, 2
(which is a conservative figure and below the estimated pre-lockdown level), and the average transmission occurred 5 days after infection, 400 infections would become 25,400 infections in a month, and 1.6 million in two months. Hardly OVER.

Parker231

I am much more likely to now go shopping as it’s going to be safer to do so. Retail spending might increase. Mask wearing hasn’t hurt spending in other countries so can’t see why UK would be any different.“

CEO of Booths reported on BBC yesterday morning that footfall has increased in their stores since they began asking customers to wear coverings several weeks ago.
For every one who stays away at least one will return.