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.

Not a chance I hate wearing my mask anyway but do in shops etc to keep others safe. I can barely shop as it is as after about 20 minutes in it I feel like I cant breathe and end up having a panic attack. If they brought this in ide never go in a shop again.

This thread goes to show that whatever people do it will never be considered good enough.

Yet no masks required for circa 12.5 million people that spend 30+ hours a week in cramped indoor spaces.

That would be the end of what's left of our city centre getting my custom. I tend to wear one in the marketplace, anyhow, since I'm usually walking a short distance between shops, it can be quite busy and I'm not wanting to fanny on with my mask and even more layers of sanitiser than I already have to use.

The walk home, OTOH, is about 2km, mostly uphill, and bloody steep in places, so challenging enough with bags of shopping and arthritic hips, particularly if the weather is anything other than 12C, overcast and windless. I often meet precisely no one on that walk. I'm buggered if I'd be doing it with a fucking mask on. I often get light headed in one just doing a food shop.

No. It's already hard enough with glasses inside (and yes, I've tried ALL the tips on here).
I'm not feeling that uncomfortable and unsteady outside too.

Emily take a look at any mask, disposable or not, under a bright light. Looking at any edge (or the middle if you position it correctly, you can see fibres protruding from the mask even with the naked eye.

I’m neither ignorant nor irrational and I follow government rules, even though I don’t agree with some of them.

‘Sod right off’ sums up my feelings on this one - We must breathe the bloody air when out and about - I don’t even want to entertain this as a possibility - I work in masks for 12 hours at a time. I reserve the right not to do so when out in nature ffs ...😤😤😤😤😤

And the thought of wearing one with cold glasses on - I'd probably get myself run over.

@PickAChew One of our local taxi drivers says his sometimes rides up and impairs his vision.

I’m in Germany and masks aren’t going to be worn in fields ffs. It’s on the very busy, pedestrianised streets in city centres where people aren’t distancing. It’s not even in all city centres, just the ones with a case rate of 50/100k.

Well, the majority of England (not sure about other UK countries) have case rates of 50 per 100k or significantly higher.

22 here.

@HeIenaDove

Actually, I am not worried about mask contamination as it relates to COVID. Based on the evidence so far, the risk of surface transmission for COVID is relatively low (despite the "sanitise your hands" mantra). The risk of transmission via "contaminated" mask is either zero or very close to zero.

I have no issues taking my cloth mask on and off during the day and, no, I do not sanitise my hands when I do that. However I change masks daily - the risk of bacteria / fungi growth appears real and it arises if the mask is worn for a few days in a row.

I hope not as I struggle to wear a mask. I have been practicing outside but I need to remove it after 10 mins on a good day and 5 mins usually.

I haven't been in shops since 15 March or on public transport since 12 March. I don't feel comfortable if I can't wear a mask long enough. I don't want to feel I can't go outside too!

I live in London and have largely avoided others on walks. My area is residential so nice wide leafy pavement. Roads are relatively quiet so can be walked on to maintain distance if needed. I live a 5 min walk from a big park - walked there at lunchtime today and only saw about 10 others.

I expect the High Street is more crowded!

Standard now in many places in Europe. Don’t see the issue in fact keep you warm in winter 🥶

Not exactly a big deal and having worn masks outside abroad I noticed how many times you do actually come close to people so can only be a good thing.

Why is it the Brits and the Yanks are the biggest mask whingers. Don’t hear it as much in Europe 🤷🏽‍♀️

@MagicSummer

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.

Me too thinking of printing out an exception card now

Nope, won’t be doing that.

When it gets colder I will wear a scarf around my neck but that’s my limit on outside mask wearing. I comply every where else, but I won’t be doing it outside.

I wouldn’t mind on the high street, if really mind having to wear one whilst jogging along a deserted track alongside a field.

@Oaktree55

Why is it the Brits and the Yanks are the biggest mask whingers. Don’t hear it as much in Europe 🤷🏽‍♀️

I suspect you’re wrong and lots of people in lots of countries around the world hate wearing masks but do so to comply with the law.

We don't have enough police to enforce such a measure simple as!

I always wear a scarf from October to April so would just pull that up outside.

There's no reason to wear a mask outdoors unless you are in a very confined space with a lot of people eg waiting to get into a shop or you are walking between shops, in which case there's no point taking it off to then put it on again.

I might wear one for the school run if it's very busy, but I can't see the point of wearing one to walk your dog or to walk to work or the shops.

I really don't understand why Germany and Italy are doing this.

I do believe masks work - it's logical that if two people are both wearing barriers to breathing on each other, it reduces the risk of transmission. But the risk of transmission outside is close to zero to begin with.

I've been wondering for a while if the UK were going to bring this in. Like fuck would I be following that rule, maybe on really packed shopping streets but otherwise, nope. A huge ton of people in this country would freak out if this decided on this - and of course there is not enough police cover to enforce it. Unless they used the army to enforce it? And then we really are living in an episode of Black Mirror.

If I go down the local shops with me mum we put one on so we can walk closer than 2m and keep them on till we get back to hers. We can be out an hour. So if they bought it in it wouldn't make any difference to us.