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.

Seriously. What is so ridiculous about wearing a mask outdoors??

Because it is a waste of time and completely ineffective?

I have zero issues with masks where they make sense (e.g. in the public transport) but I have got trouble following rules that do not make much sense.

Nobody whinged or complained evryone has obeyed.

Re: Italy - I spent the last week of August in Italy. Back then masks were mandatory outdoors from 6pm to 6am but only 50% of the people in the street seemed to follow the rules. I have learnt the new method of wearing the mask - on your arm.

I don't have a problem with it. Unless I'm in the car, I put one on when I step outside my front door if I'm walking to the shops and remove it when I return.

I don’t see it as an issue and I think it would be a good idea. I wear one at work all day, every day anyway and I simply forget I’ve got it on 🤷‍♀️

@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.

Then you feel free to wear one outside in south west London, and if you feel so strongly about it you could even campaign for a rule to be introduced locally. Meanwhile, that vast majority of the UK not living in crowded areas of London will continue to make assessments based on our own local situations, rather than yours.

Because it is a waste of time and completely ineffective?
I don't think it has yet been definitively proven whether or not Covid-19 is airborne. Wearing a mask will definitely help if it is.

I have also got a big problem with the environmental impact of disposable masks.

I try to wear cloth masks when I can but, of course, disposable masks are more breathable and more and more people tend to switch to them. Unfortunately, this results in enormous quantities of non recyclable waste which often ends up in rivers, seas and oceans.

Oh I'm not normally one to moan, but it's becoming problematic enough now waiting for my glasses to warm up and unfog when I put a mask on the go indoors. I'm not going to be going very far if we have to wear them outside 🙈

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'.
I agree. I think they should be worn outside in all urban areas though.

Totally ok if it helps.

Absolutely crazy. Nobody thinks of the fibres that are being inhaled into their respiratory tracts. People are stupid sheep with no capacity for independent thought.

Distancing is effective. Ordering people to wear masks whilst walking in fields would be utter insanity.

Even in large shops like an out of town Tesco, masks are bullshit. I was shopping every week from March for 3 months before masks were compulsory. No problems, cases were declining because of lockdown, aka distancing. The problem is schools.

Masks are a joke - can’t people see that masks haven’t prevented the second big wave?

Nobody thinks of the fibres that are being inhaled into their respiratory tracts.

Say what now?

Wearing a mask will definitely help if it is.

Hmm... Cases of COVID transmission outdoors are already relatively infrequent (e.g. on building sites or in big crowds). Most clusters / superspreading events occur in the indoor settings.

Wasting resources on preventing airborne transmission outdoors does not sound like a very effective move (at least to me).

At the peak of the pandemic no one wore masks anywhere and case numbers came right down through social distancing and people not inviting people in their houses.

I am happy to wear a mask in confined indoor situations but there is absolutely no need to wear one in most outdoor situations.

I think it is highly unlikely you could catch covid simply walking past other people outside as all the evidence points to needing to be next to someone for several minutes indoors.

I think the risky situations outside are cycling right behind someone or jogging right behind someone as there you are breathing in the same person's droplets for a prolonged period and more droplets are expelled through vigorous exercise.

I do not think wearing masks outdoors would make a difference to case numbers. The virus is clearly spreading indoors eg university halls.

Nobody thinks of the fibres that are being inhaled into their respiratory tracts. People are stupid sheep with no capacity for independent thought.

And some people are stupid conspiracy theorists with no capacity for rational or knowledgeable thought.

I don't think they'll do this. It would have a negative affect on people's participation in exercise and on the amount of time people spend inside shops, harming the economy.

Completely agree with you, ekidmxcl. The first wave was controlled by social distancing. People in shops where I am seem to think that masks mean social distancing is irrelevant.

This would be a step too far imo. All the science I’ve read has indicated outdoor transmission is vastly less likely than indoors. Maybe in big groups where people are working closely together like building sites it could be justified, but walking past people on the street? Whole load of nope.

@wintertravel1980 I presume you have as big a problem with the fact that they could be contaminated.

Fuck that.

I walk fast. If I leave my mask on outdoors I get significantly more out of breath than normal. When I'm inside I naturally slow down.

@Itsabeautifuldayheyhey

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'. I agree. I think they should be worn outside in all urban areas though.

What exactly are you defining as an urban area? Plenty of us live in cities where there is sufficient room on the pavements that the issue simply doesn't need to arise. There are people who for whatever reason don't SD of course, but that is also true outside urban areas.

Actually Emily, I have a an Oxbridge science degree. I’m no conspiracy theorist either.

I think it would be a good idea as it would remind people to wear them. and SD. Too many still aren't wearing them or SD.

We should be encouraging people to spend more time out of doors, not less. Making masks mandatory outdoors too just seems likely to drive more people inside.

I actually think this is a good idea. I'm one of a handful that wear a mask at school drop off and pick up. I notice people keep a clear 2m when I'm in a mask. If I'm not the creep kicks in.

@ekidmxcl

Actually Emily, I have a an Oxbridge science degree. I’m no conspiracy theorist either.

What’s that got to do with anything?

It’s irrelevant where you were educated and under what subject if you’re coming out with statements like that. In and of itself it shows ignorance and irrational thought.