Sneezing and face masks

[ivfjourney5]

I've got a common cold, all bunged up and sneezing, I've got to go out today to pick up a prescription so my dilemma begins... do I take my face mask off to sneeze, or sneeze into the face mask and then change it? I'll be indoors in a hospital pharmacy and I'm sneezing pretty regularly so I'll need to buy a stash of face mask to keep me covered if I need to replace it after each sneeze 🤧🤧

It negates the purpose of the face mask if you take it off to sneeze - sneezing is an excellent way to generate a mass of covid aerosols.

So your choice is - stick with the snot-filled mask, or take a large supply. But you really cannot take it off to sneeze.

Use disposable masks.
Sneeze into your mask,
Don't remove mask & blow your nose (using mask as a tissue!).
Change mask as quickly as you can.
If you sneeze & you're in a shop, wait til you get outside before you change.
It's not ideal but I'm doing it....

I'm surprised if you'll be allowed in

Sneeze into face mask and replace it ASAP away from others -there's a chance you could have it and obviously you're in an area with others. Don't forget to wash/sanitize your hands. You really won't be popular if you take it off!

OMG

How can you sneeze into a mask?

Surely you have to remove it and sneeze into a tissue?

I’m convinced masks cause more harm.

Could you ring them and ask them if they will give you the prescription outside? I know someone who did that because he’s ECV. I’m sure they’ll be happy to keep someone with a cold outside the hospital.

Could you ring them and ask them if they will give you the prescription outside?

I think I'd do this in your situation OP. They will probably be grateful to you for not wanting to go in whilst sneezing I would have thought incase you did have Covid (probably unlikely, but you never know).

It’s good not to spread a regular cold in a hospital anyway.

I’m hoping that after this, people won’t turn up to work full of cold.

@MereDintofPandiculation I would obviously not take it off and sneeze into open air 🙄 that option would be to use a tissue to cover nose and mouth 🙄

With winter fast approaching common colds are obviously only going to increase so it's going to become a common problem 😂

@AcornAutumn thank you! I'm glad the not the only one who thinks sneezing into a mask isn't the greatest idea 😂

I managed to not sneeze when I went in there, smoothly done and over with!

Can you not hold your sneeze so it's not a full blown achoo more a hold your nose sneeze if you know what I mean??? It'll be minutes, can't see how this is a dilemma. It'll do you no harm having a mask on for a few mins with a couple of sneezes, it's your own germs.

Glad it’s done OP

I’m slightly baffled that sneezing into a tissue has gone out of fashion

I saw a lady sneeze into her mask several times in the supermarket and had to stop myself saying “use a tissue”!

You lot must get a lot more warning for sneezes than I do if you'd have time to remove your mask and get a tissue out!

@AcornAutumn

It’s good not to spread a regular cold in a hospital anyway.

I’m hoping that after this, people won’t turn up to work full of cold.

Do you think from now on everyone with a common cold should take days off work? Not sure how that will go down with most employers!

@jomaIone I wish I had your hospital pharmacy, mine takes a minimum of 30 mins and you have to sit and wait. If you leave you forfeit your place in the queue!

I've just done a bit of googling, and as soon as a disposable face mask gets wet it doesn't provide protection. So if I had sneezed into the mask I would have then had to be changed immediately, so I wouldn't have been protected to walk through the whole hospital to get back outside!

Do you think from now on everyone with a common cold should take days off work? Not sure how that will go down with most employers!

I agree with the PP in hoping that it stops employees going to work full of cold, and also makes employers be a little more understanding of not wanting to pass on these bugs.

I've worked in so many workplaces where staff have all been so worried about having a day off sick that they all traipse into the workplace full of cold / chest infections etc, and guess what.. then the rest of the staff come down with it.

Even now my DH workplace someone tested negative so straight back to work, despite coughing everywhere and looking like death because they didn't want to face having a day off sick.

Yes I get that people don't want inconvenience, but it's time that this kind of culture in workplaces stopped.

@KylieKoKo

You lot must get a lot more warning for sneezes than I do if you'd have time to remove your mask and get a tissue out!

Yes, I get a weird tickling sensation.

But I’m aware a lot of people don’t and that’s another reason I worry masa’s will be damaging to the health of the wearer and those around them. Medical masks are completely different.

Re colds, yes. I remember reading that other countries don’t consider it acceptable for people to come in and spread the common cold. I have health issues so for me it easily becomes very severe.

But me aside, you can colds go round offices like wildfire. Seems like good common sense to stay at home.

Obviously we need employers not to be habitually understaffed, pay sick pay or allow homeworking where possible. Oh and end the bloody open plan offices!

I’m not an optimist so I don’t expect much good to cone from lockdown but if people start to realise that basic infection control is a damn sight more sensible than lockdown, we’ll be doing well.

I’ve had a few horrible bosses who would say to everyone “it’s just a cold, why won’t you come in”. I really hope that type shuts up now.

Coveting “ Even now my DH workplace someone tested negative so straight back to work, despite coughing everywhere and looking like death because they didn't want to face having a day off sick. ”

That’s the type of mentality I hate.

@covetingthepreciousthings

Do you think from now on everyone with a common cold should take days off work? Not sure how that will go down with most employers!

I agree with the PP in hoping that it stops employees going to work full of cold, and also makes employers be a little more understanding of not wanting to pass on these bugs.

I've worked in so many workplaces where staff have all been so worried about having a day off sick that they all traipse into the workplace full of cold / chest infections etc, and guess what.. then the rest of the staff come down with it.

Even now my DH workplace someone tested negative so straight back to work, despite coughing everywhere and looking like death because they didn't want to face having a day off sick.

Yes I get that people don't want inconvenience, but it's time that this kind of culture in workplaces stopped.

I think that would be great too - for employers to be more understanding generally. But, sadly, I'm not sure that will be the end result. Although, as we have seen, perhaps more ability to work from home (albeit, only in some industries) may cut down on the transmission of all viruses going forward.

This is interesting

mobile.twitter.com/PeterStefanovi2/status/1331268549944496128

Yes I get that people don't want inconvenience, but it's time that this kind of culture in workplaces stopped

Then statutory sick pay needs to be increased.

Do you think from now on everyone with a common cold should take days off work? Not sure how that will go down with most employers!

Presumably most people would have to at the moment in order to get a test and work out whether what they have is a cold or covid given the overlap between symptoms.

I'm not sure. Being bunged up and sneezing is not a Covid symptom.

@CorianderLord

I'm surprised if you'll be allowed in

Oh do stop talking shit! As if anywhere could/would stop you coming in for sneezing . Hands down the most stupid comment I've ever read!