Masks. To wear or not to wear

[ripples101]

There are two premises:

1. Wearing a mask DOES help to reduce the spread of covid-19

2. Wearing a mask DOES NOT help to reduce the spread of covid-19

Obviously, only one of the statements above can be true.

First question: Which of the above statements do you agree with?

Next...

If you DO wear a mask, I think it's reasonable to assume that (for you), one or both of the following statements are true:

3. You do believe that wearing a mask does helps limit the spread

4. You do not have a physical or psychological reason that prevents
   you from doing so.

But if you DON'T wear a mask, then the reasons why could be any one (or any combination) of the following:

5. You have a physical or psychological reason that prevents you from doing so (but you still believe that wearing a mask does help reduce the spread)

6. You do have a physical or psychological reason that prevents you from doing so (but you don't believe that wearing a mask helps reduce the spread)

7. There is no point in wearing a mask because you believe that wearing a mask does not help to reduce the spread of Covid-19

8. You don't believe that you are at risk if you catch Covid-19

9. You won't be told what to do

10. You don't believe Covid-19 even exists

(11, 12, 13, etc. etc.) Insert any reason of your own here....

So the question to anyone/everyone.

Which number are you?

(You can choose more than one number!!!)

Masks are good with perfect use. In practice

• and this is why they were initially discouraged from being compulsory - people touch their mask repeatedly (no choice, if need to adjust), also many now totally fail to social distance, follow the arrows etc. This is why rates are sky rocketing - it's fomites.

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fomite

1, 3 and 4
AFAIK the lack of rushing towards the public using masks in the initial stages was because there were not large stocks in the country at that stage and there were shortages of masks along with other PPE for HCPs, so the Govt were trying to make sure they didn't put even more pressure on those stocks. And part of that solution was to keep people at home rather than out spreading it without masks.

However, once stock levels improved so that there was sufficient for those who desperately needed it in healthcare and other care settings, and less medical versions that were suitable for general interactions were more readily available, people were then advised, and later required, to wear masks when out and about - initially in shops and later in other settings - to help reduce the spread.

@MiddleClassMother

I wear a mask in the supermarkets only, and doubt their effectiveness. People also seem to think they're a replacement for social distancing. That's why the cases are rising.

Does mean you can mutter "oh for the love of fuck you cunting morons" without getting thumped though

[quote PicsInRed]Masks are good with perfect use. In practice

• and this is why they were initially discouraged from being compulsory - people touch their mask repeatedly (no choice, if need to adjust), also many now totally fail to social distance, follow the arrows etc. This is why rates are sky rocketing - it's fomites.

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fomite[/quote]
But if people weren't wearing masks those viruses would be going straight to their uncovered faces no?

Yes, we need public education in how to wear a mask, as we had on how to wash your hands. That some people don't do it properly doesn't mean we shouldn't ask them to.

masks are a no! my children have to wear them to school and for what...! stopping a cold???????
it is against our freedom and our rights i am totally against this and i shall not be continuing to wear a mask!!!!

@donnaageing

masks are a no! my children have to wear them to school and for what...! stopping a cold??????? it is against our freedom and our rights i am totally against this and i shall not be continuing to wear a mask!!!!

1. It's not a cold.

1. What freedom, what rights. Be specific please.

I suggest you need an education as much, as if not more, than your children

I live in one of the Asian countries that now sees about one new case per day. I can attest that masks absolutely work (alongside other things that Boris and co can’t seem to get right, such as not storing Covid track and trace data on Excel).

@donnaageing

masks are a no! my children have to wear them to school and for what...! stopping a cold??????? it is against our freedom and our rights i am totally against this and i shall not be continuing to wear a mask!!!!

Are you deliberately being goady, or are you really this monumentally stupid?

@donnaageing is a troll who has been posting offensive comments all day. Mumsnet have been deleting their comments.

The message was not to bother back in March but now it's obligatory inside places. Which has been a bit confusing.
I wear them because it's now what we have to do and I follow the rules , but I was in a fast food place today where three people refused to wear one and it became a stand off until they decided to leave.
The poor staff didn't know what to say to them but I'm sure this isn't the first time there's been arguments about the rules and it did get heated. I feel safer wearing one even though I hate wearing doing my food shop.
It's sad the government and advice couldn't be clearer at the start of all this really and I feel for employees facing hostility over the rules they now have to enforce.

I hate them and don’t believe they help very much. I do wear one when required, as that’s the done thing and to preempt being hassled about it. Bloody awful things. I honestly think the main reason we have to wear them is to make people feel that we’re doing something. Several people who were in a meeting room together at dh’s work have gone down with Covid - they were all wearing masks. Every so often I have a moment in Sainsbury’s or wherever when I realise how weird it is that everyone is wearing a mask. It’s weird and they are awful. I still wear one though, before anyone decides to tell me off.

I wear one because it's the rules but I consider them wholly pointless.

It's a bit mean but you know I bet those arguing most voraciously against wearing masks because of 'Freeeeedoooom' are those who the rest of us would most benefit from having in a mask. Not because of Covid but because of being blessed with the ugly stick...

I wear a mask when required but am not convinced that it helps. I think social distancing and limiting the number of people in shops was probably more effective. 😷

I wear one where the law states that it is mandatory to do so, because I am law-abiding.

I'm not inclined to break the law and certainly don't want a fine. Since it's pretty damn obvious when you're not wearing a mask, I wear one. Not prepared to pretend I have an exemption - that's just naff.

I think masks help in theory but how much they help in practice I wouldn't like to say. Especially now we have to wear them when moving around in restaurants. So the mask gets touched constantly and put down on tables or chairs, either riddling them with germs or picking up germs or both.

I wear a mask because I can’t be arsed dealing with shit off people for not wearing one. I do not believe that they make a difference not one but so yes I feel a bit resentful for having to wear a mask against my will for some I do not believe in.

I don't know whether masks help reduce the spread or not, but they definitely don't increase it so I consider wearing one at worst achieves nothing and at best helps.

Totally agree with this

The opposite of 9) really - I'm just wearing one because I've been told to, and I don't want to deal with confrontation. 8) also applies to me, based on statistics, and I'm not particularly careful about the activities I choose to do (but always within the law). So I remove my mask as soon as I go outdoors, although it might be a busy street. My mask meets all the legal requirements and it covers my nose and mouth as required, but it's oversized so the gaps at the edges make it easier to breathe, and a single layer fabric only, so I'm sure mine in particular is ineffective, even if masks in general are. It also gets shoved in my handbag, readjusted, used multiple times etc, so definitely not perfect use.

Does everyone appreciate the fact that actual flu numbers are significantly down this year? Surely that proves the point that masks and social distancing prevent much of transmission of an infectious virus?

Covid-19 cases are through track and trace shown to be largely transmitted via indoors social contact. People off guard, not socially distanced and without masks.

Wear a mask. Keep your distance. It's not a big deal and it won't be for ever.

Twillow could be all the handwashing/sanitising.

Wearing a mask isn't perfect but it's one action that can help with other measures.

I wear one when advised to because I'm not stupid or arrogant enough to think my GCSE Science and browsing shit people say online makes me more knowledgeable than those who've dedicated their career to scientific research.

@FatimaMunchy
Yes, agree that this is very likely also to be significant.

1 ( as likely to be true if worn correctly ) , 3 and 4 . Healthcare worker wearing a mask pretty much all day at work so timewise wearing in a shop or on public transport pales into insignificance for me .
Hands , space and limiting contact with humans outside work are easy for me too . Walk dog early in the morning including weekends before humans are really out and about in great numbers . My biggest risk so to speak is probably classes at the gym .

Ok my opinion on mask wearing is it does help prevent the spread of virus but only help it doesn't stop .
Social distancing and hygiene must be also in place .
I feel people are getting far too complacent with masks especially in shops and in work places talking to colleagues.
There have been quite a few positive cases where I work in the last week, mask wearing is mandatory so how is it spreading ? because i feel people are getting complacent they feel it's fine to talk closely to someone if wearing a mask .