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.

I'd be happy to wear a mask outside in shopping areas, queues, at school drop off etc but I definitely wouldn't wear one when walking my dog in the countryside! If the government are even considering this, they should specify particular outdoors contexts where it actually might make sense.

Umbrellas aren't great when it's windy either...

Good job we don't live in a windy climate either lmao.

That's funny because I don't get my face wet even in windy and heavy rain, unless I'm not wearing any protection.
Do you?

The Italian government brought in outdoor masks a few days ago. From what I have read it is not just in cities but everywhere and includes wearing a mask when going for a walk, cycle etc. So in Italy you will not be able to go to open countryside or a beach without a mask on.

There is literally no need for masks outdoors unless you are in a confined space like a theme park queue.

Once they get brought in for busy city centres the next thing will be that they become widespread outdoors and then compulsory everywhere despite the fact that this spring there were no masks and cases went right down through social distancing.

Today I went for a walk on National trust land and there was a discarded disposable face mask on the path. If their use becomes widespread outdoors the countryside and seaside will be littered with disposable masks at a time when we should be reducing waste.

[quote HarryLimeFoxtrot]**@Lweji* - have you tried pushing a pram and* holding an umbrella? Or exercising (cycling/running) whilst holding an umbrella?[/quote]
Actually, while a bit difficult, it's not impossible. And there are rain coats with hoods.

And do you cycle or run a lot in crowded outside areas? Why?

@myrtilles

The Italian government brought in outdoor masks a few days ago. From what I have read it is not just in cities but everywhere and includes wearing a mask when going for a walk, cycle etc. So in Italy you will not be able to go to open countryside or a beach without a mask on.

There is literally no need for masks outdoors unless you are in a confined space like a theme park queue.

Once they get brought in for busy city centres the next thing will be that they become widespread outdoors and then compulsory everywhere despite the fact that this spring there were no masks and cases went right down through social distancing.

Today I went for a walk on National trust land and there was a discarded disposable face mask on the path. If their use becomes widespread outdoors the countryside and seaside will be littered with disposable masks at a time when we should be reducing waste.

YOu need to wear a mask when you are obviously not in a place where you are alone . I live in a city in Italy . This morning at 7 am the streets were empty . I had my mask under my chin. When I walked more towards shops / bars I put it on. I kept it on until I was totally on my own again. DId the same at lunchtime and just now. If you are at the beach and there are other people on it you put your mask on . If its just you ( and the dog) you take it off... If you are doing sports so running / cycling then no you don't need to wear a mask . School children here have to wear disposable masks not cotton ones . Yes its a problem as people loose them from pockets etc .

I absolutely dread this happening if I'm honest. I have anxiety and I feel like I can't breathe properly if I'm wearing my mask - so I can just about nip round the shop and grab what I need before I need to leave. My GP did actually say that if it affected me like this I didn't have to wear one and could be exempt, but I don't like the thought of other people feeling at risk because of me (even though I had it in April, but they don't know that) so I'd always always wear a mask indoors in public.

If they're made mandatory outside, however, I can see myself becoming a complete hermit, as I wouldn't want to wear one for that length of time without a break.

@Lweji

Umbrellas aren't great when it's windy either...

Good job we don't live in a windy climate either lmao.

That's funny because I don't get my face wet even in windy and heavy rain, unless I'm not wearing any protection.
Do you?

It's happened before yes, when the rain is sufficiently sideways and/or the brolly not up to the job. More common though has been getting wet whilst surprised by the weather and therefore without proper protection. Again though, luckily we live in a climate where that never happens!

Why is it the Brits and the Yanks are the biggest mask whingers.

To be fair, it's not all the Yanks. I live in a state where masks have been mandatory indoors in commercial places and hospitals, on all public transport, and in outdoor spaces where social distancing isn't possible since April and can count on the fingers of one hand the number of non-compliant people I have seen. I've seen lots of people wearing masks outdoors when it's not strictly necessary.

But the question of whingers is a very interesting one.

Which state, @mathanxiety?

@zen1

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?

That’s just a random cut off for making tracking easier. Any time spent in a car can infect you or walking past someone indoors who has just coughed and you walk into their respiratory cloud will infect you. They can’t trace everyone in a supermarket so sat at this. You can’t sit next to someone in a pub for 14 mins and then get up and think you’re fine. One hug or direct contact like a handshake is enough to give it to you.

I think we learnt from the last lockdown that this thing isn’t being by people outside at a distance. Or even fairly close

But we have people on planes and in halls of residence?! FFS.

No wonder people are fed up now.

The 15 minutes isn't a known threshold, it's just a safe rule of thumb that fits the utter uncertainty that everyone is operating under.

It's happened before yes, when the rain is sufficiently sideways and/or the brolly not up to the job. More common though has been getting wet whilst surprised by the weather and therefore without proper protection. Again though, luckily we live in a climate where that never happens!
I lived in the UK for 15 years and don't remember getting caught out that frequently. I used to carry a small umbrella in my habdbag because the weather was unpredictable. But most times it was a drizzle. Unlike the really heavy rain I get in Portugal. And yes, I live somewhere where the winds can and do get very strong. 🙂
It's very rare that I get, or got, my face wet.
So I don't see why people in general and most of the times can't keep their masks on around crowds outside.

It actually happened to me yesterday you know and I thought of this thread, I meant to come back and update! Thanks for reminding. I was out in a jacket and it started drizzling and the rain was tilting the other way to the direction I had to walk iyswim. No brolly. Was only out 5 minutes as I had just popped down the road, but had I been wearing a mask, it would've got damp. Now I do live west of the Pennines, I'm aware some parts of the UK don't get that much rain, but lots do. We simply do not live in a climate where this wouldn't be an issue.

Even if there was any robust evidence that outdoor transmission was a problem, which there is not, if a measure requires the population to carry umbrellas every time they leave the house in order to ensure effectiveness, it will not work.

It's silly to wear a mask to pop down the road if you don't see anyone or just cross the occasional person anyway. So...

I don't bother with an umbrella, I use a hood which keeps my hair dry (and stops it going frizzy) but doesn't keep my face dry. Those small umbrellas are crap, the only decent ones are the birdcage sort the Queen uses but I can hardly carry one of those around and I've discovered mine won't fit in the boot of my new car either so coat with a hood and wet face it is!

Indeed it would be, although in my case I saw several people, but this is a thread about making mask wearing mandatory outdoors per se.

Sure, I'm just saying that if you do need to wear masks outdoors (and I keep repeating, when too close to people for too long, not basically lonely walks) that they may get wet is a poor argument.
Just wear them, try to keep them dry, and if you really can't, change them (carry spares) or keep your distance.

As an argument against the use outdoors, it's pretty weak.

@Lweji

Sure, I'm just saying that if you do need to wear masks outdoors (and I keep repeating, when too close to people for too long, not basically lonely walks) that they may get wet is a poor argument. Just wear them, try to keep them dry, and if you really can't, change them (carry spares) or keep your distance.

As an argument against the use outdoors, it's pretty weak.

Yes, and you saying that it's a poor argument is in itself a poor argument.

You're talking about a mode of transmission that we don't have any decent evidence is even a problem. You're proposing a solution that doesn't appear to work well in the sort of weather that is very common in the UK climate, and that would require people to carry umbrellas and/or multiple masks in order to actually make it effective against a risk if one did exist. It is not a remotely sensible suggestion, even before we consider the impossibility of enforcing it and the potential wider downsides of a rule the police visibly cannot enforce.

I live in a coastal town and wouldn’t dream of using an umbrella. I can’t remember the last time I saw someone with one either; I think we all know that they will be blown inside out within minutes. It can be quite challenging to even stay on your feet, in certain areas when the wind is strong - and I’ve had to rescue little old ladies before, who have been hanging on the railings, scared of being blown away, on a particularly windy sea front road.

I do have a couple of really good coats though with parka hoods. They keep the wind out but I still get a wet face if I am walking into the rain, which I frequently am, with my dog. On the upside though, it is hard to see into the hood, so the police might not spot me if I ventured out without one.