I had a negative test today and am wearing a mask in a shop

[Attictroll]

I don’t mind wearing one usually but at this moment feels like pure social conformity.
The text came A few hours ago and my first jaunt out since.

If masks protect people from me why am I wearing one - I would love to be in the supermarket feeling less hot and as though I can’t breathe!

Because it could be a false negative? Or you have have been infected since taking the sample? Or because there’s no way of enforcing it?

I sympathise because I hate wearing them too (they trigger migraines when I wear them too long), but I think those of us who can wear masks just have to suck it up as best we can at the moment.

The test says you were clear when it was taken... but you might have caught Covid19 since then (in the air - on a packet of something etc.)
It isn't very likely but it is possible even if you have been very careful.

Thing is nobody else in the shop knows you’ve had a negative test. If this applied to everyone then anyone could say they’d had a negative test as a reason for not wearing one.

Also there is a proportion of false negatives anyway.

Just wear a mask and stop trying to find excuses. False negatives do exist, especially if the test was done too early after exposure (you might develop symptoms in a few days time and already be contagious). The tests are more accurate just around day 3 of displaying symptoms. You can do a test without any symptoms but chances of getting a false negative are higher.

Could be false negative, you could’ve caught Covid since the test, or caught it before but tested too early for it to show in the test, or it wouldn’t be straightforward to work out who’s exempt from mask wearing based on a very recent test.

Because 'false negatives' could be as high as 30%.

The mask is protecting you, to a degree, from catching it from others.

Also yes, your test result could be a false negative.

Why did you have a test? Have you symptoms? You might still be in the incubation period

Just wear a mask and get on with things,it's a one size fits most rule, you don't get to have your own personal one

All this bleating is getting really tiresome, we need ro get out of this situation as quickly as we can.

@Attictroll

I don’t mind wearing one usually but at this moment feels like pure social conformity. The text came A few hours ago and my first jaunt out since.

If masks protect people from me why am I wearing one - I would love to be in the supermarket feeling less hot and as though I can’t breathe!

Because if everyone wears one we all protect each other. You had a test that said negative, you neighbour might feel fine and decide not to wear a mask but be asymptomatic and so spread the disease. Wearing masks isn't about control, it's looking out for the vulnerable.

I have to have weekly tests but I always wear a mask in shops etc. I know someone who tested positive near the start of April, has had positive antibody result and told they can’t catch it again but they still always wear a mask because, let’s face it, can we be sure?

How long would you like not to wear a mask on the basis that you had a negative test on 08/09/2020?

Other people won't know you've tested negative. You'll be making other people feel more comfortable by wearing one.

Just wear the mask. No one else knows you have had a negative test, unless you wear a big badge.