Face masks outside

[Babyfg]

As a disclaimer I'm not a big fan of wearing masks but think it's a minor convenience and am follow all mask wearing rules.
Not sure if a really stupid question but...

I totally understand why they're important in crowded areas or indoors. However if Boris says at some point we have to wear a mask the whole time we are outside our homes, is it beneficial?

My thinking is the virus is 'blown' away when we're outside. Therefore if you're outside in a really quiet area it's better not to wear a mask as any droplets of the virus are 'blown' away and wearing a mask gives it a surface to cling onto and a damp, moist environment to grow?

Im happy to be told I'm wrong and why. Just want to be as safe as I can be. TIA

The only way I can see it being beneficial outside is if you can't distance

Again, this would be impossible to police. It's not something I would be willing to do unless I was at an outdoor venue where distancing was impossible. If it was walking in the local park, it's not something I would abide by

I walk on the common behind my house . Never get anywhere near anyone else. I wouldn’t wear a mask there regardless.

I do in town though in a high street

Thanks for the replies. I put my mask on when I get near the high street here and take it off when I leave the high street. I also wear it when requested, like picking the children up from school even though we don't go into the building.

I agree @Burnthurst187 it only seems beneficial when people can't distance. And like others have said I think as soon as I didn't see people about I'd take it off unless there's a good reason it's beneficial.

There have been an increasing number of anecdotal reports of people catching covid outdoors on MN recently. This makes sense when you consider the lack of UV-C and heat at this time of year. You’re right that wind dispersal always helps but it’s often still.

Many (most?) other Western countries have mandated masks outdoors, including places with far less cases than us.

North London is heaving in the parks-outdoors has never been so busy. There is very little social distancing on pavements or footpaths- it's just not possible in my local parks given the population density. Now that cases in London are up to 1 person in 20 being positive and that 4 separate people we know have all recently tested positive with only visiting the supermarket and going out for walks I think wearing a mask is the right thing to do around here but not elsewhere.

I really can't imagine they would make us wear masks at all times outside. Maybe in busy areas but surely with lockdown nowhere is that busy right now? Has there been something in the news that suggests the government is considering it?

I guess the only logical reason would be that to be effective you should put a new mask on with washed hands, ie. before going out. Then remove and dispose of mask and wash hands thoroughly the moment you do so (ie. again at home). I don’t think people are doing this though, I wonder how much harm is being done through reusing old masks? I wonder if the new strain of the virus, being more contagious, has anything to do with the way most people are using masks (which is nothing like they would be used in any medical setting). Taking off and putting on the same mask repeatedly can’t be correct usage, but it’s what we all seem to be doing.

The only places I go to outside I can easily stay well away from other people so I'd be annoyed at having to wear a mask. I can absolutely see the point in wearing masks in outdoor places where you can't reliably socially distance. And, dare I say it, if you're walking with someone from another household? My observation is that people do this vary rarely stay 2m apart.

So from someone who lives in a place where outdoor masks have been mandatory since April (and whose kids 4 and 9) have been masked in schools since September, my perspective may be biased. But essentially as a rule ours is ‘if you step outside your front door you must be masked’. It’s in a sense an easy rule to follow- it’s not a ‘oh this queue is crowded, I wonder if I should wear a mask.’ I know friends in London complaining about standing in crowded bus stops unmasked and then everyone putting on their masks when they got into the bus. This just eliminates all that. It’s an easy to understand rule.
Where I live is MUCH colder than the UK (and also MUCH warmer in the summer) and between April and now I have seen less than 10 people unmasked.

I can walk for hours from my house and not go within 20m of someone else, I see the point of it being simple to be mandatory ever but I'd be pretty cross all the same as people should be sensible enough to know what is a crowded area.

@WalkingOnStarshine no nothing I've seen on the news or anywhere official. Just heard it seen and mentioned a few times that it's done in other countries and what the next level of restrictions might include.

@ChaBishkoot I do seen the benefit of having a blanket rule, and that it reduces people being confused or abusing any grey areas. I'm just hoping it's not necessary (not saying it isn't) as it's a relief to take the mask off but if there's a real benefit to keeping it on I will (or at least having a good reason will make be begrudge it less sort of thing

@nancypineapple I'm in west London . But lucky I don't have to be in crowded areas very often and can shop at less busy times etc. The London rates are scary and probably why this is playing on my mind

@Wishing14 I have so many questions about the new strain that I don't think there's answers to. It's a really scary thought that the procedures we have might be a lot less effective with this strain.

It would make sense when you are in populated areas. I can’t see how touching things in a shop then coming out taking mask off. Touching it all off, stuffing in pocket to get out 10min later is doing anyone any good.

I mean I am sick of the mask wearing too. But at the same time DH is a physician who has been working with COVID patients flat out since April in full PPE so I absolutely cannot complain.
I think the one thing this pandemic has taught us is that in public health messaging is KEY.
Masking was seen where I live as a low hanging fruit. Cheap. Easy. And was encouraged in that language. (In comparison to changing ventilation, finding a vaccine etc)
In the UK at the same time it was seen as an over reaction and unnecessary. I suspect some of that messaging has stuck.
Because we have been masked since the start of the pandemic (about 2 weeks after school closures in mid March for us) it’s become the norm. And our Governor frequently goes on TV to tell us all that we are heroes for doing what we do everyday, including masking up. It’s a bit schmaltzy in an American way but hey I don’t mind.

Meanwhile in the UK the public health messaging has all been about threats and how if people don’t behave stricter rules are around the corner. (While members of the govt were happily breaking said rules). I can see why one type of messaging works and the other doesn’t.

Tokenism. They’re clearly making no difference anyway given the case numbers. Just doing something for the sake of it.

@Babyfg

As a disclaimer I'm not a big fan of wearing masks but think it's a minor convenience and am follow all mask wearing rules. Not sure if a really stupid question but...

I totally understand why they're important in crowded areas or indoors. However if Boris says at some point we have to wear a mask the whole time we are outside our homes, is it beneficial?

My thinking is the virus is 'blown' away when we're outside. Therefore if you're outside in a really quiet area it's better not to wear a mask as any droplets of the virus are 'blown' away and wearing a mask gives it a surface to cling onto and a damp, moist environment to grow?

Im happy to be told I'm wrong and why. Just want to be as safe as I can be. TIA

Your always free to wear a mask wherever you want. Asking questions here you will get replies from people who haven't taken a mask off since March last year and intend to wear one for the rest of their lives so expect an opinion based on that.