Making masks mandatory outdoors

[zen1]

I’ve seen this is happening in Italy and Germany. I’ve got an awful feeling this might be in the pipeline here (UK) in the not too distant future. What do other people think? I’m not convinced of the efficacy of masks actually doing much to stop the transmission (unless medical grade) and I can’t imagine having to do this.

Bloody riduculous. Being spaced out outdoors is a very effective way of not spreading the virus. Masks make a limited difference in indoor spaces of poor ventilation where people are in close proximity. They make no practical difference in outdoor spaces, especially bog standard, here's-one-I-used earlier cloth masks that most people use.
It's basically sticking a security blanket on your face in that setting to make some people feel better.

It would stop me going out the to city centre full stop! If they made it compulsory just for walking the dog or in the countryside I would literally cry

I really hope not.
What is the reasoning behind it? Are they saying that walking past someone in the street poses a risk? If so, why the stuff about “less than 2m for 15 mins” being a threshold for risk?
I can understand it in crowded outdoor spaces maybe (like hypothetically, the London new year fireworks, I know they’re not going ahead, or a very busy tourist attraction perhaps), but where is that crowded right now anyway?

Most people where I live are walking around the city centre with their masks on. Far more hygienic than touching them to remove after every shop.

It's ridiculous and, if enough people refuse to confirm, it couldn't be policed very well anyway.

This has been the case in Belgium for months. People just get on with it. You get a big fine otherwise. No smoking or eating allowed whilst walking either.

I would be fine with it, I don't really understand the problem.

It would be a ridiculous overreaction and I would be extremely tempted not to comply. I will wear my mask in shops and other indoor areas already required. I need to take it off when I emerge.

I'm hoping that they won't do this. If they do then I just hope people will kick back against this shit soon.

I'm not doing it. Totally willing to wear one in shops and the like, but not in the fresh air.

Masks not being worn in shops can't be policed so it certainly won't be policed if it comes to wearing masks outside. I think it's a step too far and I wouldn't wear one. Inside/enclosed spaces fine.

It is only happening in Germany in a very few, very crowded areas (central squares in Munich or on large demos) where social distancing can't be guaranteed. Generally speaking the German approach is that masks aren'tneeded outdoors because virus particles are sufficiently dispersed by fresh air.

Utterly pointless and just feels like they need to be seen to do something given that everyone agrees that outside is very low risk.

I can barely breathe walking around the shops with them on. I'm not subjecting myself to it outside where it is completely unnecessary.

@CokeEnStock

This has been the case in Belgium for months. People just get on with it. You get a big fine otherwise. No smoking or eating allowed whilst walking either.

Would you actually get fined on a dog walk in the country early morning? Do people hike or jog with them on?

I’d be fine with it. Where I live the pavements are crowded, people don’t social distance and don’t cover their mouths when coughing or practice good hygiene despite it being an area of high transmission. The risk outdoors isn’t Zero although it is lower but this would lower the risk even further given the people who won’t social distance and those who cough in other people’s faces.

Nope, have to wear one at work, wear one in shops. I can't wear one walking the bloody dog as well

Fresh air is not that fresh if you try to breathe it through a damp face mask.

I don't go to very crowded places anyway, and only have the occasional mooch in a town centre.

I will comply in the shops but when outside my mask will be down under my chin. I don't care who says what to that. Indeed, I would be rather delighted if there were to be mass disobedience.

It’s a ridiculous idea - the efficacy of masks indoors is borderline at best, let alone in the open air. And further mask-wearing mission creep would make DP even more of a social outcast than he already is - he’s exempt due to severe trigeminal neuralgia, and now receives abuse for this on a daily basis (despite wearing the sunflower lanyard).

I wear one because I have to in shops - I hate it, feel faint, can't breathe, etc. I am NOT going to wear one when I take my dog for a walk to the beach - I hardly see anyone - and I find it hard enough when walking quickly to keep my breath. This is madness.

Ridiculous unless one is a queue at a theme park or anywhere where you are stuck right next to people for a period of time.

Social distancing far more effective outside.

For those who live in rural and coastal areas it would be completely unnecessary and would prevent people breathing in healthy fresh air.

I also think it’s ridiculous and, were it to come to pass here, would like to see robust scientific evidence (not just talk of ‘following the science’) that it would make a substantial difference to the levels virus transmission. I comply with shops and restaurants (although questions how wearing a mask when walking 5 metres to a table then taking it off makes any sense), but I think I would draw the line at wearing one in the open air.

Utterly pointless - would be just another rule for the sake of it.

Breathing through a damp mask in the cold winter months, fuck that. Yes there is a virus, but I am seriously wondering if they are seeing just how much they can push people.

I've been petitioning my council along with many other parents to put road safety measures in place on a busy road with children walking to school, a child has already been hit on this particular crossing. Nothing is being done! Nothing. They are too busy putting barriers up along the high street causing road congestion so people can 'social distance'. World has gone fucking mad.

I wouldn’t care anymore. I forgot to take mine off when I left the shop earlier so I was walking back to the car with it on. I guess it would stop me from being able to go running though which I would care about.

Given that you supposedly have to spend 15 mins in the company of someone with Covid in order to acquire enough of the virus to get the illness, how would wearing a mask when going for a walk make any difference?