Wearing a face mask in the rain

[WalrusWife]

Just wondering how this works as you effectively breathing in rain? We are told that face masks are less effective in the rain. It’s pouring down here and windy and looking out of my window, I can see people in masks.

Not sure I get what you’re saying, we don’t breathe in rain when we haven’t got a mask on.

I don’t understand. If we were inhaling rain we’d be drowning.

If you have a soggy face mask attached to your face from rain water it can’t be good for you surely?

Where are you that you can see loads of people from your window, outside, with masks on?! Round here you see people wearing them when they're queueing for the supermarket, but not walking up and down residential streets?

I normally take my mask off in between going in different shops* (unless they're next door/close to each other), but I think I'd keep it on in pouring rain as putting a wet mask on and off would be grim.

*obviously I mean when we're not in lockdown...

Why wouldn't it be good for you?

Sorry - just realised you didn't say 'loads of people', just 'people'. But still you must be able to see enough to make it worthy of note...

Depends on the fabric. Absorbent fabric is probably going to be pretty wet and cold after a bit and not very pleasant, but I don’t think it’s going to do any harm. And polyester masks don’t really absorb water - I wear one for cycling in winter to keep my nose warm and even when it rains it’s fine.

Residential street but near the countryside so get quite a few walkers going past. And a noticeable number round here tend to wear masks outdoors. Just seems really uncomfortable as the rain is really heavy. And wet masks aren’t as effective.

I use a big umbrella to protect my face when out in the rain in places where masks are required or needed (eg before schools closed, we needed them for drop off or pick up etc).

I would imagine no mask would make any difference to people walking in the almost-countryside! Unless they're jostling for position on the pavement.

I can't see a wet mask doing anyone any harm, but I can't see any mask, wet or otherwise, making any difference to infection rates outdoors in an uncrowded place.

Well they won't be as effective, no. But they're not bad for you. You can't drown while walking due to a wet mask. You're not breathing water into your lungs.

I have a strange image in my head now of the rain waterboarding people through their masks as they queue for Sainsburys

I don't wear a mask in the rain, there's no point.

I made some with a waterproof but breathable outer layer (specialist fabric) which is what I use. I think you can buy them - google droplet repellent masks.

Nobody wearing masks outspdoors in my neck of the woods
Why would you?

I’m pretty sure you aren’t supposed to wear them if they get wet.

I did it once as got soaked running from the bus to a shop and didn’t have a spare. I really struggled to breath with a wet fabric sticking to my mouth and nose. I can’t see why people are choosing to wear them in the rain really.

Some places you have to wear them outdoors eg I am a lecturer and least term we had to wear them around College even outdoors (now I am working at home). I think a bit damp-ish is OK, very wet probably hard to breathe through. Not sure how they would get that wet though! If you are out for a long time in heavy rain, then I suggest an umbrella.

If it rains you can't wear them outside. It's very damp at the moment anyway and they just get damp at which point they're worse than useless.

I know the Dementors think everyone should be wearing them outside but there is zero point unless it's a very dry sunny day and even then only in crowded spaces like a outdoor market or the queue for the post office.

I only wear it when I have to like in supermarkets. If people want to wear them outside, fine but just don’t see the point in soggy masks!

@Dowser

Nobody wearing masks outspdoors in my neck of the woods Why would you?

No idea. I was running along a very quiet single track road/ bridleway on the edge of a tiny village and a couple of muddy miles away from the nearest significant population, and there were people going for a masked walk along there. Social distancing is a total non-issue there! It's rare to pass anyone on that route.