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.

Surely you breathe the same air, just through a layer of fabric? I wear one in town as I find it easier to just do it and stop thinking about it. Also, it means I don't have to wear foundation and I can now imagine that I am in the Red Brigades, so win-win. Oh yeah, and back in March I did catch a nasty illness that made me feverish, exhausted and short of breath for weeks and weeks, so if I can not get it again, or get a lower dose, that would be nice.

I'm fine with wearing a mask outdoors in crowded tourist areas, we did so near Barcelona in July when we were away, didn't get ill. There's no way on this earth I'm wearing one when DH and I go for our daily walk round our estate when we hardly see anyone! If we do happen upon someone it's a very polite "we'll cross over... No WE'LL cross over..." Screw that.

Just came back from the Canary Islands where this is the case, you soon get used to it even in the 30 degree heat. Cases decreasing there every day.

Same here @everythingisginandroses I tend to just keep mine on rather than have to take it on and off again, my preferred reference is Regina King in Watchmen

I was also ill at the end of March and I’m still having intermittent bouts of feeling short or breath and heart palpitations. No test so will never know if it was Covid but keen to avoid getting it for a first/second time.

This has been the case in Belgium for months. People just get on with it. You get a big fine otherwise.

Hmmm... isn't it now changing?

www.voanews.com/covid-19-pandemic/belgium-eases-covid-19-restrictions-despite-surging-cases

At a news conference Wednesday, Prime Minister Sophie Wilmes told reporters that beginning October 1, Belgians no longer will be required to wear a mask outdoors, except in crowded places where social distancing cannot be practiced.

Wilmes said wearing a mask has become part of people's daily lives and remains a very important part of fighting the spread of COVID-19.

But, she said, "We have to acknowledge that it is useless to impose it everywhere, every time."

Belgium's mask requirement had been among the strictest in the world.

How can that even be enforced, I mean you don't let someone in somewhere without a mask but walking down your street say who's going to do anything ?
I can understand if your with a lot of people outside but walking the dog going for a run that's madness and I wouldn't do it .
I'm sure some would love this to be a rule but unless you are in a area with crowds of people it's simply not necessary.
If I'm going to the supermarket I don't take it off until I get to the car anyway .
What concerns me most about the whole mask debate is that people are wearing a mask but everything else is getting lax like social distancing hence the increase in cases .
Someone else said it masks are just creating a security blanket and they are not effective because they are not used properly.

So if this is brought in.................homeless people would have to wear one all the time

Are Hancock and co going to step up and provide them with constant free masks and access to wash them if they give them the reusable ones?

Get out of that one Tory Party.

No way.

I'm already wearing mine outdoors everywhere apart from the park (we go there for a weekend walk early when there's hardly anyone around).

We live in a built up urban area, narrow pavements and there's no social distancing happening at my DCs primary school.

Research I read earlier in the year showing coronavirus can carry a further distance on polluted air is on my mind too.

I'd support this being made mandatory but recognise there would be a big issue with compliance here. But when I walk past parents chatting away at the school gate or people ripping their masks off as soon as they leave a shop or get off a bus, then mixing with others in close proximity, I do think what a difference bringing in this law would make to reducing exponential spread. Sadly many have run with 'outside is totally safe' and won't accept there's any risk.

Also agree with the hygiene point made that it's preferable to keep my mask on for a whole trip out rather than constantly taking it on and off.

When Spain and France tried to over-rely on masks, the move did very little to the spike of cases. New infections continued going through the roof.

Spain only started slowing down when it introduced additional social distancing measures (including curbs on hospitality).

It would be a pain for me because I take a lot of outdoor exercise. I don't want to wear one when jogging, cycling or walking alone in woods miles from others. Even in places like Sinagpore joggers & outdoor aerobic exercise wasn't required to be masked. But who knows what UK will decide.

I wear one inside shops and on buses (when the fuckers turn up) im not wearing one outside Thats ludicrous

I wore one for pottering round town yesterday. It was fine.
I would hate to have to wear one once a week for 3 hrs when I meet a friend and we walk 7/8miles. Infact, it would put me off exercising outside, so my lockdown weight will go on even faster.

Oh and i wear one in the hairdressers.

Do we really want to put people off from excercising.

X post @InTheLongGrass

If this becomes a rule I think a lot of people will start to develop reasons why they are exempt.

Seriously. What is so ridiculous about wearing a mask outdoors?? It’s just a mask, not a muzzle, FFS.

Pavements can get very crowded where I live, SW London. It’s a total chaos at 3-3.30pm when all the local school children come out. No social distancing whatsoever.

I’d happily put on one and get on with normal-ish life rather than going into lockdown again. You get used to it.

I doubt it would Happen.

How on earth could they justify mask wearing in fresh air, whilst keeping schools open with zero sd, very poor ventilation, and no.... Masks. With 40 people squashed into a room!!

So many ridiculed when Italy went into lockdown, ( and on MN) when we wore masks in shops and on public transport ( enforced) . Italy from 2 days ago made mask wearing madatory outside ... Nobody whinged or complained evryone has obeyed ..SImple really . The rule is if you are obviously alone so walking the dog in the countryside then you don't need it. Anywhere where you are passing people on the street you wear them. If it works it works , if it doesn't then time will tell.

@aprilstory

Seriously. What is so ridiculous about wearing a mask outdoors?? It’s just a mask, not a muzzle, FFS.

Pavements can get very crowded where I live, SW London. It’s a total chaos at 3-3.30pm when all the local school children come out. No social distancing whatsoever.

I’d happily put on one and get on with normal-ish life rather than going into lockdown again. You get used to it.

Where I am you hardly see anyone let pass them on a pavement. So yes it would be ridiculous to mandate them for 'simply outside'.

@Rosa Im half Italian and have relatives over there. Italy have been handing out masks for free outside pharmacies. And there are exemptions there.

We arent all in London.....................thank fuck!

I believe the fact Hong Kong wore masks more or less all the time at the start of the pandemic is one of the reasons they haven't had the same infections. It wouldn't bother me if it helped.

I just am not convinced it is a particularly effective measure there does not seem to be anywhere that has done this and only this and brought cases down but yes be interesting to see if Italy vaults its current rise using this measure, but it didn’t really seem to work in France or Spain who had to resort to social distancing measures.

@JamSarnie Masks could be mandated for everywhere outdoors in cities and towns. With a percentage of residents complying it could make a difference... may at least make more people think about distancing at the school gate, bus stop, outside the corner shop etc.