Can someone please explain the point of face masks/coverings

[victoriasponge08]

Without sounding ignorant. Why are we bothering to wear them?

The government website states for track and trace purposes, the definition of a close contact Is

having face-to-face contact with someone less than 1 metre away (this will include times where you have worn a face covering or a face mask)

I’ve lost count of the amount of times selfish people in the supermarket come right by me and reach over for the item their trying to get, instead of just waiting for me or other people to move.

Happened this afternoon. I was getting some bananas and a woman just came right beside me, we both turned around at the same time and were face to face.

So this now makes me a close contact, even though we had masks on.

My son is having driving lessons at the minute, both wearing masks but I don’t understand why if it’s not actually giving you any protection.

There is no point, it makes people 'feel' better, thats all.

So would you have been more or less likely to pick up the virus from the woman in the supermarket had you not been wearing masks?

I thought it was a natural selection measure. Those that dont see the point of restriction of droplets from reaching others may help in less viral load, are judged.

@Slightlybrwnbanana

So would you have been more or less likely to pick up the virus from the woman in the supermarket had you not been wearing masks?

Well according the test and trace is doesn’t matter if you’re wearing a face covering so I’d say it’s of equal chances.

@RiaRoth

I thought it was a natural selection measure. Those that dont see the point of restriction of droplets from reaching others may help in less viral load, are judged.

But it’s doesn’t stop the spread, does it. It doesn’t offer any protection from catching it.

I thought it was under 2m or 1m with a masl for 15 minutes.

You wouldn't be a contact of someone in the supermarket?

Read the definition of contact - isn't it fifteen minutes?

You can read how and why masks work.

The masks will be helping in the driving lesson.

Coronavirus is spread in water droplets, so theoretically these are stopped by face coverings.

You have to separate the two issues.

Wearing masks reduces the probablity of transmission - this seems to be widely accepted.

But T and T isn't based on the actual likliehood of transmission, it works by having some pretty basic rules to identify contacts to try and limit general transmission.

I'm sure there are 1000s of links on google that explain more clearly that I can

No protection? Wasn't there evidence that the wearer and those around them are more protected with a mask. And I'm sure I read if you do happen to catch it while wearing a mask then you're exposed to a much smaller viral load and therefore less chance of becoming sererely ill

@3teens2cats

I thought it was under 2m or 1m with a masl for 15 minutes.

@3teens2cats

Doesn’t state a time for less that a meter, only 2m.

I'm sure there are 1000s of links on google that explain more clearly that I can

Yes quite but I think some people don't really want to understand, they want to moan or undermine the measures.

If you cough/sneeze with a mask on you are much less likely to expel droplets into the air and onto other surfaces. Therefore people are hopefully less likely to pick it up from contaminated surfaces and from airborne particles. That’s part of it from my understanding anyway. It’s a case of my mask protects you and your mask protects me.

@Popcornriver

No protection? Wasn't there evidence that the wearer and those around them are more protected with a mask. And I'm sure I read if you do happen to catch it while wearing a mask then you're exposed to a much smaller viral load and therefore less chance of becoming sererely ill

@Popcornriver

Well I thought so, but test and trace would still class you as a close contact. Even with a mask.

If you have a barrier in front of your face, and I have a barrier in front of my face, I won't breathe on you, and you won't breathe on me.

I said this on another thread yesterday or the day before - I have put a mask on and breathed really hard against my hand and felt nothing. So if it doesn't let through a really hard breath to something close by, it won't let through normal breathing to someone standing a little way away - even less than 2m.

@Bumble84

If you cough/sneeze with a mask on you are much less likely to expel droplets into the air and onto other surfaces. Therefore people are hopefully less likely to pick it up from contaminated surfaces and from airborne particles. That’s part of it from my understanding anyway. It’s a case of my mask protects you and your mask protects me.

@Bumble84

Well then I guess face to face with no coughs or sneezes, and a mask would be less likely source of transmission?

www.instagram.com/p/CGDmeW0hp9B/?igshid=110k8tyk5wbjg

Its not a single method it's part of a system of measures to reduce the risk. Not prevent but reduce.

@cologne4711

If you have a barrier in front of your face, and I have a barrier in front of my face, I won't breathe on you, and you won't breathe on me.

I said this on another thread yesterday or the day before - I have put a mask on and breathed really hard against my hand and felt nothing. So if it doesn't let through a really hard breath to something close by, it won't let through normal breathing to someone standing a little way away - even less than 2m.

@cologne4711

I’m referring to less than 2m. More like a 1m.

It does offer some protection, yes. Especially the three layer ones with the special filter. Not full protection, no. But some degree.

Your issue is clearly with the test and trace rules, not mask wearing. So why not start the thread about that?

@Slightlybrwnbanana

Your issue is clearly with the test and trace rules, not mask wearing. So why not start the thread about that?

@Slightlybrwnbanana

It’s not test and trace though is it.

We’re told to wear masks to offer protection, but yet are being told that if you’re a close contact of a positive case, even with a mask, then you’re still at risk.

Well no one ever claimed a mask could offer 100% protection against Covid!

@Dontknownow86

There is no point, it makes people 'feel' better, thats all.

Ahh, right. So I guess surgeons shouldn't wear masks then

The answer to your problem, OP, is to move faster in the supermarket. You're getting in the way.

Yes they offer some protection. They reduce viral load, they reduce how far the virus travels

No they don't stop 100%.

People are wearing them to help to protect others, because they're not selfish idiots. Masks protect others far more than the person wearing them, though they do help the wearer a bit.

Track & trace can't know who was wearing them or if they were wearing them properly, so they need to include them as contacts.

What is not to understand about masks limiting viral spread?