Should we assume we will all be in masks for the forseeable future?

[randomer]

It occurs to me that the " its safe to remove masks" message won't be coming any time soon.

We only have to wear masks in shops and on public transport. We can walk wherever we want and go in parks etc without masks.

We went to our local nature reserve yesterday and no one wearing a mask anywhere. So just cut down on shopping. I have.

If you're outdoors you don't need a mask. It's for indoor area. For those who cant wear one; maybe get a sunflower lanyard or a badge as that's a visual sign showing you are exempt

As far as I know wearing a mask doesn’t protect me at all? It protects other people if I am sick, is that right? I keep reading people talking about masks like they are protecting themselves

Some research is showing that masks protect the wearer to some extent too, and reduce the viral load if you come into contact with an infected person.

I imagine they will have a small protective effect to the wearer but ultimately its to stop the wearer passing on covid in the droplets emitted from their mouth/nose.

I don't see why face cover wearing wouldn't protect the uninfected, unless they touch surfaces & their face constantly transferring new material up there.

Masks help break all the little chains of transmission. Universal wearing reinforces each other wearing as social norms. There's a multiplier effect, the more masking the more little chains can be broken. I would say it might be less direct impact on transmission, but still protective for the uninfected to wear.

I went in a small Tesco and a big Sainsbury’s yesterday, 2 different areas too. One affluent, one not so much and half the people in both weren’t wearing them and no one else seemed bothered. No shaming going on, shop staff let them in with no words. A lot of people wearing them round their chin or only on their mouths with noses uncovered. I think unless there’s another big rise in cases people think the danger has passed and they don’t need to comply.

I’ve seen quite a few people wearing face shields instead of masks, I presume these are people who are exempt from mask wearing but want to send a visual message to others that it’s not that they’re just not bothering. I’ve certainly not seen anyone being challenged over it or funny looks etc.

I’ve no idea how effective they are at catching droplets compared to a mask, but they do seem very effective at warding off busybodies

I’ve been struggling in my cheap close-for mask in this hot weather, but am going to buy or sew myself a better one.

I think it’ll actually be quite cosy in winter and keep my poor nose from getting cold and red!

*cheap close-to-face mask

No it won't be permanent a lot still don't abide by the rules and it is not in our culture saying that I think by choice people might wear but they won't be mandatory I hate them as I get panic

@IwishIwasyoda

i can't stand the so called new normal ....

It is new ab normal not the new normal 😉

@Iminaglasscaseofemotion me too I feel the same existing not living

I dont get the "I dont like wearing a mask" posts.
I doubt there are very many people who actively enjoy wearing a mask. For some medical people they will be used to wearing g them for prolonged periods of time but I still cant imagine they want to wear them.
I am lucky that I have no disability or condition that makes wearing a mask difficult (even my glasses dont steam up!) The biggest problem I have is finding a mask to fit as I am petite and the standard size falls down easily. I've got used to wearing one on the train and it makes me feel marginally safer if the passengers are spread out and wearing masks but I certainly wouldnt choose to wear one if I didnt have to.

At least for a while and probably they will become normal for when you have coughs and colds. I've found wearing the paper masks much more breathable than the fabric ones.

@Dinosauratemydaffodils, I'm wondering if you could be very careful about the time you visit the museum and keep the visit brief, like do multiple small visits if that is possible.

God knows, maybe as they used to do autism friendly events, they may realise they need to do things to accomodate different groups of people.
You are entitled to a life.

Yes, until a vaccine comes, which I am optimistic will not be too long.

There seem a lot more people in the U.K. and US who ‘cannot’ wear a mask than anywhere else in the world, which leads me to believe that culture is playing a role.

@Mothermorph

I dont get the "I dont like wearing a mask" posts. I doubt there are very many people who actively enjoy wearing a mask. For some medical people they will be used to wearing g them for prolonged periods of time but I still cant imagine they want to wear them. I am lucky that I have no disability or condition that makes wearing a mask difficult (even my glasses dont steam up!) The biggest problem I have is finding a mask to fit as I am petite and the standard size falls down easily. I've got used to wearing one on the train and it makes me feel marginally safer if the passengers are spread out and wearing masks but I certainly wouldnt choose to wear one if I didnt have to.

I guess the point is that if people don’t like wearing them, they won’t choose to spend their leisure time (and disposable income) wearing one, so they’ll probably avoid non essential shopping etc. No one I know likes wearing one, but everyone is wearing one where they have to (ie shops and public transport). It means they’re avoiding shops bar for essentials though, and doing most of their shopping online. Which I suppose is a good thing overall, as people will be saving their money ahead of the massive recession, and staying out of public places so less virus transmission!

Yes. I think masks will be the way of life until a vaccine comes, IF a vaccine comes.

@larrygrylls

Yes, until a vaccine comes, which I am optimistic will not be too long.

There seem a lot more people in the U.K. and US who ‘cannot’ wear a mask than anywhere else in the world, which leads me to believe that culture is playing a role.

Just wondering how you know this? Do you read much Spanish/french/Italian press or support forums for example? I do. My in laws are Spanish, living in Spain. I used to live there. I also used to live in France and my best friend owns a restaurant there. We spent 2 years living in Italy too. From what I’ve read/heard from the people living there, there is plenty of moaning about masks there too, and also a fair number of people medically exempt for various reasons. Just because something isn’t reported in our MSM, doesn’t mean it isn’t happening.

Exactly @Drivingdownthe101. There’s a not very pleasant tendency on here to rubbish the Brits and say that every other country and its citizens are marvellous. There was a case in France where a poor bus driver was attacked and later died after challenging a group of men for not wearing masks. How does anyone know just through seeing a bit of news footage how people reacted to wearing masks?

@SengaStrawberry

Exactly *@Drivingdownthe101*. There’s a not very pleasant tendency on here to rubbish the Brits and say that every other country and its citizens are marvellous. There was a case in France where a poor bus driver was attacked and later died after challenging a group of men for not wearing masks. How does anyone know just through seeing a bit of news footage how people reacted to wearing masks?

Yes, it’s like a ‘reverse exceptionalism’. We’re so much worse/more selfish than everyone else. I’ve lived in a lot of different countries and actually people are much of a muchness!

It's odd that...while I have seen reports on many abroad not distancing etc, (e.g. Croatia) and in Spain nightclubs being open till 1am... and can be seen by resurgence in Europe where they are apparently fantastic in their mask wearing that it is not exactly helping prevent spread is it

"Some French cities are expected to introduce additional face mask requirements. From Friday in Orleans, in central France, masks will be required in open-air markets and after 9pm along the Loire river, where crowds of people have been gathering in the evenings. The mayors of Bayonne and the nearby Atlantic resort of Biarritz also announced face masks would be compulsory in their city centres starting next week."

In the Guardian today. Odd, as transmission is low outside. Why not just, well, say to stay apart a bit? At markets would have though the contact from buying things would be more of a risk...

Hope we do not have something similar.

I think we'll just have to start seeing masks as underwear for your face😳
at least it's one in the eye for those who profit from facial recognition technology 🙂