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 would / do in an urban centre.

Not when I’m hiking up into the hills or walking along the beaches surrounding my tiny village though. Nope nope nope.

We have to wear masks outdoors in Rennes. When it was hot in September wasn't very pleasant but n now it's cooler it's no different to wearing a scarf, my ch easier to bear

Agree @Aprilstory.

I’m in Italy. The new law specifically states that you must have a mask with you at all time outdoors. You can walk in a field without your mask if nobody is about, but in a residential or commercial street you have to wear one. There is an exemption for exercising alone so you don’t need to wear one if jogging etc. There are also exemptions for medical reasons.
There is very high compliance with mask wearing here anyway but people were getting increasingly relaxed about it over the summer. I think the authorities are less concerned about people passing one another in the street than large groups outside chatting for extended periods in close proximity (in my town this is mostly teens hanging out in the park or waiting for school buses, but also includes groups of elderly men playing cards).

Playing cards would blow away, here :o

PP said Belgium have relaxed mask restrictions. In urban areas you still have to wear one plus ALL shops, restaurants etc. Secondary school kids have to wear them all day.

hmmm... I dunno when rules came in.

I watch the TdF & Giro so lots of crowds on roadsides to observe.
Mask-wearing on roadside was much more prevalent in France than Italy.
Latest case counts.
Note different scale on vertical axis.
Yet still people treat mask-wearing like a magic pill.

I can't see the point. It wouldn't bother me because I wear them at work and I'm used to it. But I'm on cold number three since the start of term and In bed feeling awful (not covid we've been tested ) so I don't really see that they're working.....

It would be fine for popping into town but a long yomp in the countryside not so much.

I don’t get why people want this.
Those who want to wear a rag outside go for it. Don’t drag the rest of us in and make it law turning us even more towards a fascist state.

@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.

I don't think we have the man power to enforce this our police forces are already stretched. I cant remember the last time I saw a Bobby on the beat in my area, I don't who would be the one stopping people smoking or eating in the streets

I’m not wearing a mask outdoors.

You're right 3littlewords, we don't. We haven't even got the resources to enforce the rules we currently have. The fact is that with stuff like masks, staying inside etc, you have to get the population onside or it won't happen. Compliance rates were very high in March and April because most people bought into it. They did it because they wanted to.

Just seen this headline in today’s Times
www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/doctors-call-for-masks-to-be-compulsory-outside-as-well-397j3rh2c

Good masks do make a difference. A flimsy cloth one that still allows you to blow out a candle, though, doesn't.

But most transmission is done indoors, between people who spend time together and with poor ventilation.

I wear a mask outdoors, to be on the safe side, if in a crowd, with a few people at a bus stop, or similar.

But I don't think mandatory outdoor masks are useful or even a good policy. It leads to mask fatigue and people will be more likely to have risky behaviours.

BTW
" 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)"
You're not supposed to take the mask off when you sit. Just when you eat. If you're at the table, just talking, it's best to wear a mask. Even with household members, you're still doing a favour to the restaurant workers and other people around.

There's increasing evidence of aerosol transmission, and aerosols linger in the air and move around with air currents.
Most of the current guidelines are for droplet transmission and probably not enough to stop the spreading.

Doctors:

Masks should be mandatory outdoors as well as indoors when there is a risk of coming within two metres of other people , doctors have urged.

Title: "Masks should be mandatory outside"

The devil is in the details.

If masks are so great that Trump needs to wear one even when standing on a balcony outside & yet not good enough to protect others in the hermetically sealed car he travels in...

If diluting the air is so great so that opening your windows means covid can't blow in except Trump standing maskless on the balcony to address a crowd is extraordinarily reckless of him.

There is a lot of hysteria about masks & airborne transmission. That is the one clear conclusion I can draw.

Well they can bring it that rule, but I won’t be doing it.

I happily wear one on the train, in shops, museum but I will never wear a mask to walk to the corner shop. If this virus was spread by simply being outside, the death rate from earlier this year and in every other country would be fucking massive.

Oh ffs.
I refuse to wear one full stop. But outside?? In the name of fuck seriously?? No. Just no.

mission creep at it's finest.

I'm out with the dogs for at least 3 hours a day. I'll take my chances with the 'fresh' air thank you very much.

@lljkk I've also been watching Le Tour and Giro d'Italia. 'Compliance' looks better in Italy for sure. And kind of makes sense in towns as the race passes through and people are encouraging riders.

But otherwise? Outdoor mask wearing in normal life ..? I haven't seen any real evidence to support this anywhere. It feels like another thing being done by desperate governments who need to be seen to be doing something.

[quote RedRosie]@lljkk I've also been watching Le Tour and Giro d'Italia. 'Compliance' looks better in Italy for sure. And kind of makes sense in towns as the race passes through and people are encouraging riders.

But otherwise? Outdoor mask wearing in normal life ..? I haven't seen any real evidence to support this anywhere. It feels like another thing being done by desperate governments who need to be seen to be doing something.[/quote]
Yeah I think that's a lot of it.

Making masks mandatory is a cost-free and very visable way of being seen to 'be doing something', even if the benefits are minimal at best.

I would wear one outside in a crowded area, there’s no way I’m wearing one when I’m running. I go at 6am and see very few people apart from other runners. If I can socially distance outside then I won’t be wearing one.

@Hairwizard

Oh ffs. I refuse to wear one full stop. But outside?? In the name of fuck seriously?? No. Just no.

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