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!!!)

No exemptions. Virus molecules cannot read badges and lanyards.

Cover your nose and mouth unless you are at least a hundred metres from anyone. Put a mask on your child.

If you do not wish to cover your nose and mouth, nobody should force you to leave your home, but you should not imprison others in theirs, from fear of you.

You have no right to spread a fatal disease.
You have no right to spread fear.
You have no right to cause others to live in solitary confinement

A hundred metres @20mum - have you got any scientific justification for that particular distance??

@20mum

No exemptions. Virus molecules cannot read badges and lanyards.

Cover your nose and mouth unless you are at least a hundred metres from anyone. Put a mask on your child.

If you do not wish to cover your nose and mouth, nobody should force you to leave your home, but you should not imprison others in theirs, from fear of you.

You have no right to spread a fatal disease.
You have no right to spread fear.
You have no right to cause others to live in solitary confinement

I think your opinion is extreme 100 metres No exemption You have no right to spread fear . I think if you have such fear then don't go out there is still a risk with mask wearing and even 100 metres may not be enough what about 500 metres or more .? You have no evidence it's 100 metres it's 2 metres but obviously the further away the better . How the hell do you live your life 100 metres away from anyone long term and how do you expect everyone else to do so ? . I find it odd people so fearful yet they think masks will protect them completely they won't .

I wear a mask all day at work. I wear a mask when I go to the shops.

For the shops, I wash my hands, put on my mask, and then wear my mask all the time until I get home, and then wash my hands, take off my mask.

All I see when I am out (and at work) is people constantly taking their mask on and off (without washing hands) as they go in and out of shops. When I am at work and talking to someone wearing a mask, they must fiddle with it about 100 times.

People don't socially distance when wearing a mask.

Stop. Touching. Your. Mask.

It MIGHT slow down rates if people wore them properly. ie not around their necks or under their noses

I think it's kind of silly to be questioning this now. Research are showing it's effective, to protect both wearer and those around you. It's clear mask wearing countries are doing far better than country like UK with lots of anti-maskers.

I wear a mask (and happy to do so) but I think they give people a false sense of safety.

@20mum

No exemptions. Virus molecules cannot read badges and lanyards.

Cover your nose and mouth unless you are at least a hundred metres from anyone. Put a mask on your child.

If you do not wish to cover your nose and mouth, nobody should force you to leave your home, but you should not imprison others in theirs, from fear of you.

You have no right to spread a fatal disease.
You have no right to spread fear.
You have no right to cause others to live in solitary confinement

I have a reason not to wear a mask but I do wear one.

@20mum I was the victim of a sexual assault which has resulted in panic when my mouth is covered. I have to go to work. I take regular ‘time outs’ as and when I can which helps. I expect a lot of people have had a similar experience but unable to tolerate masks.

you have no right to be so judgemental

One of the biggest outbreaks near me was in a workingmens club. Masks weren't required when seated. The club thought it had its covid measures spot on but they didn't account for the behaviour of the members. People were swapping seats, social distancing went out the window. They had to close but not before 25 members became infected. Multiply this situation up and down the country and you can see why infections rose. Yet the hard of thinking say that the rise in infections proves masks don't work. Covid is being spread because of prolonged social and family interaction. Some workplaces and schools too. All places where mask wearing is not required.
As an aside I forgot I had mine on the street after shopping the other day. It doesn't half keep your chops warm!

I wear a mask because I am required to.
However, I have tried to source links to studies which demonstrate that they actually are effective in reducing the spread of Covid and haven't been able to (perhaps someone could post links)?
If so there is an absence of evidence, I think we should consider our position.
I personally find I get closer to others when I am wearing a mask (I don't mean to but my spatial awareness is shot when I am wearing one) and I really question what we are doing.
But I would love to see some of actual evidence that this course of action is correct?

Sorry, that should just say if there is an absence of evidence.
Not sure where the random so came from.

It's a very ignorant opinion you have as you can't possibly know everybody's circumstances and disability

I agree

in.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-japan-masks/japan-researchers-show-masks-do-block-coronavirus-but-not-perfectly-idINKBN2770DD

@Mydogdoesntlisten This article is interesting. Suggests that (whilst not offering complete protection) masks do help protect both the wearer and those close to the wearer. N95 masks offer a high level of protection, but even cotton masks significantly reduce how much virus gets through.

I'm utterly confused

I think I'm 1 and 3

I wear a mask to protect you, you wear a mask to protect me
If you can't wear a mask for any reason, that is understandable.
It is also important to remember social distancing and hand hygeine.

You wear a mask to protect me

And i will wear one to protect you

Not that difficult really

Interestingly, I learned yesterday that washing masks in bio washing powder was not the best way to wash them. Soap or non bio powder is the way to go.

in.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-japan-masks/japan-researchers-show-masks-do-block-coronavirus-but-not-perfectly-idINKBN2770DD

Study referred to in this article suggests your own mask offers significant protection to you (as well as protecting others). N95 masks in particular offer a high level of protection, but even a cotton mask offers a significant degree of protection compared to no mask.

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)

And I won't be told what to do.
I'm starting to think we need to just get on with life and whatever happens, happens!
I've known 1 covid death but 3 suicides. (
1 close person due to this) and 1 attempted suicide, one of dh friends.

Thanks for posting the link Lilypond2.
I'm still not convinced though as like I said, I end up getting closer to others without meaning to, fiddling with my mask without meaning to as it's irritating (again, I try not to and stop as soon as I realise what I'm doing) and tbh, the case numbers are going up despite mask wearing (and dropped when we were not wearing masks).

Case numbers are going up that’s true, but not because we are wearing masks, but because of the handful of people that choose to not wear masks, social distance and follow the rules set.
Also we don’t wear masks in all settings like they do in countries that have managed to bring the cases right down. I’m not fond of children and teachers wearing them in school settings, however they do in some countries and I am convinced that’s why they are in a better position than we are.

Also just to add, I for one avoid shopping etc unless it’s absolutely necessary, because I find wearing a mask so uncomfortable. I feel like I can’t catch my breath properly. However, I will always wear one if I am required to despite absolutely hating it because I trust the scientist know what they are talking about and it has been well proven now that they are beneficial.

Sb2012, but has it? Have there been rigorous studies? Please could you post the links?
Lilypond2 posted a link to one study which was very interesting but it still seemed that masks didn't filter out anything near all of the virus and so presumably it still spreads? I assume that reduced viral load is good but I assume you can still contract Covid, and then in turn spread it? And I assume that the reduced viral load while possibly benefitting you personally has little impact on those around you in terms of the likelihood of you spreading it to them?
But I am not a scientist and will happily be corrected on my understanding.

@Mydogdoesntlisten

Have you read this...

www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/science-and-disease/face-masks-could-giving-people-covid-19-immunity-researchers/

Thanks Belch, that's really interesting. So I assume then that masks don't actually stop Covid spreading, but make us less sick if we get it. So really, they are protecting us as the wearer rather than preventing spread?