Masks are here to stay aren’t they?

[Redbrickwall]

JVT seemed to make that very clear tonight.

I’m gutted if this is true. I only have hearing in 1 ear and rely on lip reading more than I realised. I find masks awful and avoid going anywhere where I have to wear one .

[wanderings]

Masks are unpopular and an easy win for the government to get rid.
Indeed, which is probably one reason why they brought them in late: Saint Boris hoped that he could get away with not making them compulsory; then he realised that face nappies (no apologies) were the perfect uniform for the Johnson School of Brainwashing and Public Obedience, and they were ideal fodder for playing divide and conquer, as Mumsnet proved, and a very obvious way for the public to show allegiance to one side or the other. Has anyone actually proved their effectiveness or otherwise?

So yes, it might be an easy win for the government to make them optional, while still making it a criminal offence for us to visit our own families.

[StrawberryLipstickStateOfMind]

@everythingthelighttouches

I agree that the government shouldn’t wriggle out of properly funding the NHS and also absolutely there are many public health interventions where money spent up front would reduce acute problems and overall costs.

I wasn’t proposing “insisting” on anything though, you’re extrapolating a bit.

I was saying it would be great if there is a cultural change so that most people were much more careful in high risk situations for some of the time (winter).

Well, fair enough if some people want to continue to wear them in the future, I definitely think it's good if people who feel vulnerable for whatever reason find it easier to wear them in future.

I just feel strongly that they should never become compulsory and should not be used instead of the government actually taking steps and investing in stopping the NHS becoming overwhelmed every winter.

[Spodge]

Keeping a distance is fine by me. Keeping masks is not.

[everythingthelighttouches]

I agree that the government shouldn’t wriggle out of properly funding the NHS and also absolutely there are many public health interventions where money spent up front would reduce acute problems and overall costs.

I wasn’t proposing “insisting” on anything though, you’re extrapolating a bit.

I was saying it would be great if there is a cultural change so that most people were much more careful in high risk situations for some of the time (winter).

[Alfaix]

I will keep wearing them for:
Public transport
Supermarkets
Busy public places like doctors, hospitals etc
Work (dentist so wore them anyway!)
I like not having as many colds.

[StrawberryLipstickStateOfMind]

Remember the flu vaccine isn't always that reliable.

It's often least reliable in the elderly, so if we wanted to protect them better and reduce hospitalisation in their age group (which obviously costs a lot to the NHS as well) there is an argument in vaccinating everyone. Which given the horrendous costs in all ways of this pandemic, may mean that the government/population should consider how investing in health in the first place may save long term.


www.google.co.uk/amp/s/metro.co.uk/2019/10/03/get-flu-jab-even-young-healthy-10848627/amp/


And I'm sorry but insisting on continued mask wearing on the public is just pushing something else at us to have to do, rather than the government actually doing something. Yet again.

[everythingthelighttouches]

StrawberryLipstickStateOfMind

Yes, of course, the nhs should be properly funded. I totally agree.

As for everyone in U.K. getting flu jab, that would be great too. Definitely more expensive than people wearing masks in higher risk scenarios in winter, but surely more than worth it. Anyway, if there’s an annual flu+covid jab, that should be more cost effective.

But it still wouldn’t be enough.

Flu mutates extremely rapidly (much more rapidly than sarscov2) and we already give it to the two most at risk groups (over 75s/70s(?) and kids) and still have huge numbers in hospital every year.

[2boysand1princess]

Yes, I agree.
I would like to continue wearing the mask in busy and crowded places or anywhere I want really.
I also love the social distancing, (obviously not when with family and close friends) would love for that to continue for those who want to even after covid is no longer a threat.

[WitchesBritchesPumpkinPants]

@StrawberryLipstickStateOfMind

We can do both.

[poppycat10]

I think masks are a good idea, but I would say only for the winter months to hep avoid transmissions of colds and flu. I am sure some people will stop using them for good reasons but I hope the majority will carry on wearing them in shops.

I won't be sorry not to have to wear one for two hours in the hairdressers though.

I think reusable masks are a cheaper and more eco-friendly option than vaccinating the whole population against flu. Remember the flu vaccine isn't always that reliable.

And of course much more wfh, especially if you are under the weather but not ill enough to need to stay in bed, will also reduce colds, flu and other illnesses.

[StrawberryLipstickStateOfMind]

@everythingthelighttouches

How amazing it would be if seasonal flu was much reduced every year in future?!?

Imagine what the NHS could do if they didn’t get overwhelmed every year with bed shortages because of flu.

I wouldn’t want masks to be mandatory in the way they are now but it would be great if as a country we learnt something about reducing respiratory viruses from all this.

Couldn’t we live with a bit more hand washing, bit more care/ wfh if you can if you have a cold or flu, wearing masks on crowded tube/train/bus in winter?? Not everyone would have to but if enough did, it could have a massive impact.

Or we could choose to invest properly in healthcare, ensure the NHS isn't on its knees every winter, and if we want to avoid high levels of flu, choose to vaccinate the whole population?

Which would benefit the elderly and people most likely to die from flu, as even though they are vaccinated, the vaccine doesn't work so well for them.

And would probably be beneficial for the economy as well, with less sickness in the working age population.

Rather than continue with masks

[everythingthelighttouches]

How amazing it would be if seasonal flu was much reduced every year in future?!?

Imagine what the NHS could do if they didn’t get overwhelmed every year with bed shortages because of flu.

I wouldn’t want masks to be mandatory in the way they are now but it would be great if as a country we learnt something about reducing respiratory viruses from all this.

Couldn’t we live with a bit more hand washing, bit more care/ wfh if you can if you have a cold or flu, wearing masks on crowded tube/train/bus in winter?? Not everyone would have to but if enough did, it could have a massive impact.

[StrangeAddiction]

I don't mind them and will probably wear them for a good while yet.

As much as I hate being close to strangers in queues eventually I'll probably stand close enough so that the queue won't be literally a mile long (airports etc) but all of the hugging and kissing when you meet someone that everyone has started doing can fuck right off!

[Rubberducky21]

I've quite enjoyed not getting a cold/flu this Winter which must have been because of wearing masks, so wouldn't mind it being a standard thing if you're ill and out (I agree if you're really ill, you shouldn't leave the house but even when you're starting to feel better, it can still be contagious).

The thing that concerns me is the amount of single use plastic in the disposable masks. I did read about 100% compostable masks a UK company has created this morning in the Yorkshire Times. Got me thinking about the amount of disposable PPE the NHS use - how amazing would it be for the environment if they used a plant based face mask? Looks after health and the Earth.

[daisyjgrey]

Like anyone cared pre 2020
No sorry we want our lives back,its happening
No masks, no restrictions

I see people have learnt nothing this year. Excellent.

[Inkpaperstars]

I must admit that I don’t have a problem with not seeing someone’s full face when I talk to them, mainly because I can still see the eyes and body language. I have had several medical appointments recently and realised later I couldn’t even remember if the person had worn a mask or not. I sympathise with those who rely on lip reading or other facial cues though, or just need speech to be as crystal clear as possible. I don’t find people look anonymous or less human in masks though.

[stschiap]

Bloody hell no. The minute they aren't mandatory I'll be dumping them.
Bloody awful things. I can't hear what other people are saying. Non-verbal communication has gone down the pan. Difficult to work with my clients because they can't read my facial expressions.
I get rashes on my face from them no matter how often I wash them and make sure I put a new, clean on one.
Glasses steam up most of the time.
I find I start to overheat in them and have had panic attacks.

I live in another country and masks were ditched last June. The minute they were ditched the vast majority of people stopped wearing them. They were brought back in a couple of months later when case numbers started to rise.
As soon as they are ditched I think the majority of people will ditch them too. They won't wear them voluntarily.

[KittyMcV]

Can't wait to get rid of the things! Horrible depersonalising articles with little clinical evidence for their efficacy. However I'll be keeping up with increased and longer hand washing, individual cloths for hand drying, and awareness of touching face and eyes. I look forward to resuming hugging, hand shakes and personal human contact. But will be washing hands more frequently. But the masks will be washed and recycled!

[covetingthepreciousthings]

I've noticed that my asthma is much better in the cold weather if I wear a mask outdoors, so I'll keep them on hand for that reason.

Yes I've found this too.

[MadameBlobby]

@Fittata

Why just Britain? Masks weren’t widely worn before Covid in most European countries or the US for example. But no, selfish Brits again.

Because we are discussing the situation in the UK...

So why is what Asian countries do relevant?

[Fittata]

Why just Britain? Masks weren’t widely worn before Covid in most European countries or the US for example. But no, selfish Brits again.

Because we are discussing the situation in the UK...

[bumbleymummy]

I think they'll start gradually disappearing in early 2021 and will mostly be gone by late spring/summer.

[WhoWants2Know]

I've noticed that my asthma is much better in the cold weather if I wear a mask outdoors, so I'll keep them on hand for that reason. And I definitely intend to wear one when I have a cold to reduce the chance of passing it on.

[Openalltheadvent]

@MargosKaftan sorry but I can tell you now, they won’t have vaccinated most of NHS staff by Christmas

[MadameBlobby]

@Fittata

I think the UK is too much of an individualistic (selfish?) society to carry on wearing masks once the pandemic is over. The typically Asian countries where mask wearing is the norm when you are ill also have a very different culture of social responsibility and looking out for each other that is often sadly lacking in the UK.

Why just Britain? Masks weren’t widely worn before Covid in most European countries or the US for example. But no, selfish Brits again.