When do we think will masks become optional?

[sailorsinthedancehall]

November? There was mention of social distancing no longer being a thing by then?

I'm hoping soon! I dont see the point of them now tbh

The sooner the better.

Can't come soon enough for me. I HATE the things, and don't think they are the magic shield of immunity many people seem to think they are.

Keep your distance, catch your coughs/sneezes, wash your hands.

Get rid of the bastardingly awful masks.

Already preparing my bingo card for:
*only selfish people don't like masks
*the virus is a killer
*if you don't like masks you'll hate A VENTILATOR
*medical staff wear one 12 hours a day
*if it means my children don't die i'll wear one forever

Anything else I've missed?

Probably next spring. The government are going for low case numbers so masks are needed throughout winter. There is no way social distancing will end in November.

I'm hoping so too! Went to an activity centre a week or two ago and you had to wear it in one area but not another despite being with the same group of people the whole time?!

Not until next summer I hope.
Or before that if the WHO says the pandemic is over.

Soon I hope, so fed up with having to wear them then reading the news that says very few deaths, lower infection rates and that it's potentially mutated to a less deadly strain - so why are we having to wear the stupid things then - we didn't at the height of this!

Make them optional!

There is no way social distancing will end in November.

Absolutely right. It’s ended now where I live.

Hoping it’s ASAP but realistically I don’t think until next spring/summer. I hate them.

@SockYarn
You've missed a big one ...... "Don't kill Granny'

The removal of muzzles can't come soon enough...however I am terrified they will be here to stay. In the news today it is reporting that 6X more people are dying on flu than covid-19....

There is zero evidence that masks work. We were told we should expect a 40% decrease in new cases. Obviously we have not seen that at at. I’ve just been to a huge shopping centre, three floors. The massive overwhelming majority had them on.

However I do think we should still wear them as it’s a visual sign that we still need to be cautious. Once masks are allowed to be optional people will forget there is still a risk of catching the virus.

I’m happy to keep wearing mine till hospital admissions for COVID get lower

Probably until there is a vaccine or a better treatment so not anytime soon.

The reason IMO for reduced deaths is for combined reasons. Vulnerable people being more cautious is definitely a big one!

I think they will be around for a while - Italy have just announced that masks must now be worn in outdoor public spaces, and parts of France are doing the same.

I’m happy to keep wearing mine till hospital admissions for COVID get lower

Don't know where you are, but in Scotland the hospital admissions have been ridiculously low for WEEKS. Last day there was a double digit hospital admission was 5th June, compared with over 200 per day at the height of the pandemic. No reason to think England/Wales is any different. The Scottish 7 day average admission is running at about 1 a day.

How low do admissions have to be?

They help prevent infection so they have to stay for now. Probably another year or so, unless there's a vaccine.

I think it will be around March 2021. I feel like things will be feeling much more like “normal” by Easter next year. I’d imagine once we get clear of January things will progress favourably quite fast.

Good one, Sock!

Also second wave.

@NameChange84

I think it will be around March 2021. I feel like things will be feeling much more like “normal” by Easter next year. I’d imagine once we get clear of January things will progress favourably quite fast.

I think this too. The government will be doing everything to make sure we get through the main winter months then as we go into spring things will start to relax. Hopefully we will have a vaccine around this time too.

@SockYarn

Can't come soon enough for me. I HATE the things, and don't think they are the magic shield of immunity many people seem to think they are.

Keep your distance, catch your coughs/sneezes, wash your hands.

Get rid of the bastardingly awful masks.

Already preparing my bingo card for:
*only selfish people don't like masks
*the virus is a killer
*if you don't like masks you'll hate A VENTILATOR
*medical staff wear one 12 hours a day
*if it means my children don't die i'll wear one forever

Anything else I've missed?

• have you tried a visor
• get a sunflower lanyard I've got/suffer from xyz and I/my child* can wear one

Should be added for sure.

We could all dress in bubble wrap

However I do think we should still wear them as it’s a visual sign that we still need to be cautious. Once masks are allowed to be optional people will forget there is still a risk of catching the virus

Bonkers

I suspect that wearing of a face covering will become forced upon us in more places fairly soon. I don’t see any restrictions being relaxed on the near future. Governments love masks because it’s a very visible sign that they are doing ‘something’.

I wear one but my resentment is growing particularly when i see certain industries doing what the fuck they like and risking paoples lives in non Covid ways.

@BellaintheWychElm

However I do think we should still wear them as it’s a visual sign that we still need to be cautious. Once masks are allowed to be optional people will forget there is still a risk of catching the virus

Bonkers

It is indeed bonkers but remember the main justification used by WHO for making masks compulsory is that it makes other mask wearers feel less self conscious.

YY @AlecTrevelyan006 Its called tokenism