When do we think will masks become optional?

[sailorsinthedancehall]

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

I do think lots of people take things like mask wearing less seriously because of the example set by Dominic Cummings. A lot of us wear them simply because we have to and for no other reason, because those instructing us to wear them can no longer be taken seriously.

@lovelemoncurd

When people stop harbouring under the misconception that cloth masks actually work.

It’s certainly not looking like they are doing much given the increase in cases. No doubt someone will be along though to tell me (a) it’s too soon for it to have an impact or (b) that case would be even higher if we hadn’t been wearing them. Sure.

It’s certainly not looking like they are doing much given the increase in cases.

It’s a “no win” argument for masks! If infections are stable or coming down, someone will argue “we clearly don’t need them!”. If infections are going up, the refrain is “they clearly don’t work!”

Masks in shops etc are the equivalent of cutting out your mid-morning biscuit as part of a diet... On its own it won’t make you lose or gain weight, but that’s not to say it doesn’t make any difference, just a pretty small one, with the idea that lots of marginal differences and behavioural nudges will add up to something significant.

Personally I think masks in shops are more about promoting the “stay alert” mantra than making significant inroad in itself to Covid transmission.

@Figmentofmyimagination

Agree... The trust eroded by Cummings story hasn’t been remains dented, and the Government’s timing, implementation and justification of masks has been woeful... it’s a wonder compliance is as high as it is (which is still very high wherever I’ve been, apart from service stations where it is more patchy for some reason - guessing people don’t always plan to fill up when they’re out - with some places exceeding requirements!.... a majority wore masks at my local recycling centre for instance (I didn’t).

If cases were reducing or staying the same of course I’d agree they were doing some good. Not where they are increasing. People on here and links that are posted make out that masks are the ONLY thing that will bring the pandemic under control. That being the case, you’d expect to see some positive impact.

@RaspberryRuff

www.theguardian.com/business/2020/aug/20/estee-lauder-plans-to-cut-up-to-2000-jobs-globally-profits-dive-coronavirus?utm_term=Autofeed&CMP=twt_gu&utm_medium&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1597940706

Estée Lauder is planning to cut up to 2,000 jobs worldwide as it shuts stores and department store beauty counters after a slump in sales and profits during the coronavirus pandemic.

The makeup, skincare and perfume company, which also owns brands such as Joe Malone, Clinique, La Mer and MAC, said it intended to shut between 10% and 15% of its freestanding stores, with job cuts amounting to about 3% of its global workforce - mostly in stores as well as related support roles.

The cuts are expected to save the company up to $400m (£300m) a year. Estée Lauder revealed net profits more than halved to $680m in the year to June. The fall came despite the group making $800m worth of savings including cuts to advertising, travel and a recruitment freeze. A quarterly dividend due in June was also ditched

While online sales surged during the pandemic, this did not fully offset the temporary closure of retail outlets around the world, Estée Lauder said. Sales were also hit by the reduction in air travel, which affected trade at airports.

Fabrizio Freda, its chief executive, said the group had delivered record sales and earnings growth in the first half of the financial year . But then the coronavirus crisis hit its business, owing to the closure of offices and retailers as well as significant decline in social gatherings, the company added. Demand for skin care was resilient, with sales up by a quarter for core products from Estée Lauder and La Mer. However, sales of makeup, haircare and fragrance all fell while beauty counters and salons were closed for weeks.

Physical distancing rules meant that close contact beauty treatments, such as facials, makeovers and eyebrow grooming, which are key parts of the sales pitch in department store beauty halls’, only resumed on 15 August in England. Many beauty halls remain closed.

Sales of lipstick, which is traditionally counted as a comforting purchase in hard times, have fallen during the crisis partly as a result of the need to wear masks in many public places

The Estée Lauder figures reflect changes across the industry.The UK health & beauty chain Boots plans to shed 4,000 jobs – the equivalent of 7% of its workforce – despite strong online growth. The beauty group L’Oreal, said its sales decreased by more than 11% in the first half of this year.

Estée Lauder said the pandemic had accelerated changes in where consumers shop, what they value, why they purchase products and how they engage with brands.

These latest job cuts came as the US reported a 135,000 increase in the number of people seeking unemployment benefits. Claims rose to 1.1m last week, compared with an expected fall to 925,000, evidence that many employers continued to slash jobs as coronavirus affects the economy. A rising number of people who have lost jobs said they consider their loss to be permanent.

Probably as soon as the Government realise they are not helping stimulate spending as they had hoped! That day cannot come soon enough for me...I avoid all scenarios when they have to be worn and am certainly not spending money in shops.

I’m not a scientist but where I live (not UK) we are in a second wave lockdown. We now have to wear a mask at all times outside our house or car (unless under 12 or other exception applies, eg MH issues or breathing issues).

We all hate the masks here. I’m getting better than before (No more panic attacks), but we all still hate them. But I’ve found that the compulsory rule for everyone is a leveller. Less stranger anger and more community alignment.

Our cases are dropping again - Can’t say if mask related or other reasons. But the masks are definitely a way to acknowledge that we must be careful and considerate of others.

We want our kids back at school sport /clubs and for restaurants and pubs to open again. If the masks can help reduce community transmission then it’s worth the inconvenience.

I still hate masks. We all do. But we are getting used to it.

@loulouljh

Probably as soon as the Government realise they are not helping stimulate spending as they had hoped! That day cannot come soon enough for me...I avoid all scenarios when they have to be worn and am certainly not spending money in shops.

Same here. I used to love a day in the shops, I’m not even slightly tempted now and won’t be until it’s the experience it used to be.

Also, I rarely go out as I hate masks so much. But...I feels so good to see our cases dropping day by day. I tell myself, it is worth the inconvenience of me wearing a mask if there is even a remote possibility this may save someone’s life.

I used to love wandering around the garden centre but the whole experience is rubbish now. They have to be worn even while outside. Inside is so stuffy you feel like you can't breathe. It will be lovely when you don't have to wear them any more.

@PocketClap

Also, I rarely go out as I hate masks so much. But...I feels so good to see our cases dropping day by day. I tell myself, it is worth the inconvenience of me wearing a mask if there is even a remote possibility this may save someone’s life.

Are you in the U.K. because cases here seem to have been going up since masks have been mandatory.

In France, cities are starting to make them compulsory for in the street.

@coldcolder

In France, cities are starting to make them compulsory for in the street.

And also in France, the Tour de France is going ahead in a week. Madness. Let’s see their figures in a month.

Last week in IKEA (Milton Keynes) a lady pulled down her mask, sneezed a huge sneeze all over a counter in the food shop area then put her mask back on!! We told a store assistant and she came and cleaned the area. Was absolutely gob smacked!! Not even a sneeze into her arm or a tissue! So while there are people like her around the masks seem pointless!

I live opposite an undertakers.

They're not noticeably busy.

@WingingItSince1973

Last week in IKEA (Milton Keynes) a lady pulled down her mask, sneezed a huge sneeze all over a counter in the food shop area then put her mask back on!! We told a store assistant and she came and cleaned the area. Was absolutely gob smacked!! Not even a sneeze into her arm or a tissue! So while there are people like her around the masks seem pointless!

Oh god I had a sneeze build up in the supermarket last week (hay fever!) so stressful! I didn’t know if the etiquette was to remove my mask and sneeze Into a hanky or sneeze into the mask! I went for the latter in the end into the crook of my arm!

Anyway the point of the TdF post was that I’d be right fucked off to be told to wear a mask in the street when basically the world’s biggest cycle race was still going ahead. Shows maybe it’s not just our government who don’t have a fucking clue.

I think it’s something we’ll have to get used to and that the use of masks will become the norm. I think the rules will tighten more and be in place for a couple of years yet.
By focusing on masks, and Coronavirus, the government is hiding the Brexit shambles. Blame the pandemic and have people kick against masks instead of having them kick against the unprecedented level,of corruption and huge impact Brexit is about to have.

People just blindly follow advice.

I’m on holiday in a small town with small shops. Today I entered one such shop. It had foods all around the walls and a central bit with more goods to look at.

The left side of the shop was crowded. I decided to head to the right hand side of the shop, which was empty. It wasn’t actually possible to move on the left.

The woman on the counter shouted at me and told me there was a ‘one way system.’ So she was funnelling people into the same tiny space and refusing to allow them into open spaces.

I left.

I took DD shopping yesterday for some school things. She wore her mask and was being very good, however I could see she was getting visibly distressed. So after the first shop, we went home.

If this is meant to get us shopping. I don’t see how that’s working.
I ran round the supermarket the other day and left as soon as I could. I probably should have bought more things but after 30 minutes with a mask on I’d had more than enough.

@RaspberryRuff sorry for any confusion. I mentioned in my previous post I’m not in the UK. Masks are mandatory everywhere in my region outside the home/car unless you are under 12 or have a valid reason (eg mental health or breathing issues). Our cases are going down. But, of course, that is not necessarily because of masks. But no one is arguing anymore about wearing them, and we are just getting on with our lives and grateful to see our new case numbers falling every day, whatever the reason.

Tbh, you get used to it when you have to wear them all the time. No one likes it, but it reinforces how careful we all need to be. So maybe the mandatory mask wearing is helping to support other behavioural change.

[quote PocketClap]@RaspberryRuff sorry for any confusion. I mentioned in my previous post I’m not in the UK. Masks are mandatory everywhere in my region outside the home/car unless you are under 12 or have a valid reason (eg mental health or breathing issues). Our cases are going down. But, of course, that is not necessarily because of masks. But no one is arguing anymore about wearing them, and we are just getting on with our lives and grateful to see our new case numbers falling every day, whatever the reason.

Tbh, you get used to it when you have to wear them all the time. No one likes it, but it reinforces how careful we all need to be. So maybe the mandatory mask wearing is helping to support other behavioural change.[/quote]
Sorry, must have missed your previous post, I guess it might be like dieting, once you see the numbers going down it encourages you to keep going! When you don’t or it goes up, you think meh, what’s the point! Xx

I think I could enter a world speed shopping event and be in the top 3. No dawdling, list in hand, like an Exocet, scanning as I shop, chucking in the trolly. No browsing for non-essentials, get to car and put in bags at the boot. I did a weekly shop in 10 minutes today, normally 40 plus minutes. Supermarkets must be feeling the pinch from people sticking to lists rather than browsing clothes and sundries.

I'm actually surprised they're not already optional in time for the schools returning. It doesn't make sense needing one to reduce the spread when you're just popping in the supermarket for a few things but you don't in a packed classroom or office.