Wearing a mask going for a walk

[MerinoFroggie]

Would you wear a mask going for a walk?

I haven't worn a mask while walking to date but I'm thinking about changing this from today. Going for a walk later on. When I am on the quite road, I won't be wearing a mask. When I join on the main road and the main walking path I will put on a mask then because its a small path and keeping 2 metres apart from passerbys will be hard.

No way where I live in the countryside. Wearing a mask while out for a walk would be the absolute last straw for me. I can semi understand it in urban areas, but how depressing to wear a mask while walking.
If that sort of thing starts being advocated and then imposed, it would tip me over the edge.

ffs No.
Why is masking outdoors such a hot topic now, is it to do with Germany policy changes or just sheer panic "they" don't know what else to try (to prevent the infections that happened weeks ago and are leading to high death rates now).

I guess it would be different if I were in London where the only possible places to walk are public parks with density similar to a rock concert (or so people suggest in hand-wringing ways).

I looked at recent webcam footage. Conditions in London parks didn't seem intensely crowded to me.

I don’t mind people putting on their masks and giving my children a wide berth, I’m not in the least offended. I do mind those who make clear their irritation that we are in public at all, huffing and puffing as a toddler takes a little longer to move to the side of the path than they might like, despite the fact that I only take them to outdoor places where there is plenty of space for everyone. Children and their mothers are allowed in public spaces still.

Crimblecrumble1990

I don't because I'm usually with my baby and want him to see my face. I also think the risk is extremely low.

However if people feel more comfortable then why not.

What does annoy me are mask-wearers who are clearly worried who tut and leap into hedges and glare at you. I keep myself to the other side of the path but also have a pram and a dog so I do take up more room than a single person. The paths are often narrow where I walk (the only dry place you can walk with a pram locally) If you are so paranoid then please either walk somewhere where you know you will be able to adequately social distance or accept it.“

I probably wouldn’t see you because I go out after dark, preferably in foul weather when sensible people are indoors 😁
Ignore those people tutting though. Just as I would hope that a fit runner half my age would move out of my way because it’s easier for them, so I would be more easily able to get out of your way, so would. I wouldn’t tut at you and would smile.

A request though. If there are 3 of you straddling a path and another person is approaching, PLEASE move to single file as you pass.

3 women power walking on my route just won’t, for anyone. Really alarming for more vulnerable people.

Yes, but only because it keeps my face warm

honestly your outside it’s so OTT

I lube in a city one a network of bike paths and I've observed more and more people are wearing masks while walking. They are far busier than normal and it can be hard to distance at all times so it's understandable

*live in a city

Yes I would if I was going to be passing other people. UV levels are low in the winter so the virus doesn't dissipate outdoors like it did in the summer.

Personally no as I think the danger to me with impeded vision (steamed up glasses) is higher than the risk of catching covid.

I've started keeping it on. My face is so much warmer! I've tried a scarf but it keeps slipping down. I won't bother from spring onwards.

No. I avoid wearing them as much as I can - get deliveries etc (even before lockdown) so I can avoid going out. Hate them and glasses always steam up so feel suffocated and blind. Get a sore throat too. I'm so grateful wearing them at work isn't a requirement like it is for many people now. If I do need to go out for a prolonged amount of time in a place needing them I put in contacts but they irritate my eyes after a while so isn't a daily solution.

OP you are not going to catch covid by going for a walk but if it makes you feel better wear a mask (but masks don't work once they get damp, which they do very quickly at the moment).

If I had to eg queue for the post office I would wear one, but only because I am on close proximity to other people for a few (or more) minutes.

Outside is really not the problem - THIS is - and this is a government agency!

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-55785912

@BonnesVacances

Yes I would if I was going to be passing other people. UV levels are low in the winter so the virus doesn't dissipate outdoors like it did in the summer.

Hmm where is the evidence for this please? I do see a lot of nonsense about transmission outside. It's like people believe in the miasma theory again!

You cannot get it by passing someone. You need 15 minutes within 2m of someone. Even if you assume everyone in your area has the new variant which is up to 70% more infectious, and even if you assumed that that meant you could get it if you were 15 SECONDS within 2m of someone, that is still about 3 times longer than you take to pass someone.

What does annoy me are mask-wearers who are clearly worried who tut and leap into hedges and glare at you

Yes I had a woman like this yesterday who gave me a filthy look and turned her back on me. And another one who stopped even though the path was at least 2m wide and dived into someone's driveway.

And then you get the other side of the coin like today when a couple were walking along the towpath and made no attempt to go single file at all.

At least the majority are in the middle, go single file when they see you, and don't glare!

You don't need 15 minutes within 2m to be infected. If that were true, shielded people would not be told not to go to the supermarket or the pharmacy.

The probability of being infected by a passer by is very remote, however, fear is not rational.

I only wear a mask outdoors when walking in busy places such as main shopping street and the promenade (seafront VERY crowded on sunny days).

@redsquirrelfan afraid your numbers are slightly wrong. It's anytime period if having a conversation face to face, 15 minutes in proximity to others.
Transmission is estimated to be lower outside due to the natural ventilation. I cannot stress enough what poor ventilation and build up indoors does and there are many research papers into this.

It's not impossible to get it outside, a few papers showed that runners outside if one was running in the slip stream of another then they would catch covid. Also if someone coughs at the same moment that your walking past and your within 2-3 meters then yes you are at risk.

Majority of the papers shows that walking past people if at a distance your unlikely to get it. Think of the cloud of cold breath that you can see from people it's a good indicator of space required.

@redsquirrelfan Well lower UV levels in the winter and the fact that UV kills viruses is basic science, but here's an article on it. www.healthline.com/health-news/how-long-can-coronavirus-live-on-a-surface-temperature-and-light-make-a-big-difference

Much of the research on transmission and ventilation was done during the summer. We are now in the winter. Viruses such as the flu are more prevalent in the winter, for this reason.

This is the problem when our government breeds distrust in the experts and we turn into armchair scientists, with only half the skills.

I live in London and there are noticeably more people in the parks and on streets this lockdown all getting their hour (yeah right) of exercise. Lots of people hanging round the park gates to chat and not moving out of the way when you approach or moving 2cm, lots and lots of panting joggers brushing past and lots of groups walking several abreast so yes, having not worn a mask outside in previous lockdowns, I do now.

I only go out to walk the dogs and try to do that early and late when there are fewer people. They do still need a pee at lunchtime though so I go out then for the minimum time possible.

@JoannaDory there is no one hour time limit for exercise. It really isn’t healthy to be only spending an hour outdoors a day.

I do wear a mask when I'm outside and other people are around.

These are the rules that have been set in my US state.

Our Covid rates have consistently stayed much lower than the UK, and we have not had to go back into lockdown since last spring. Our schools are open, with distancing and mask wearing. Shops, gyms, restaurants etc are open.

As things appear to be working pretty well, I'm happy to follow the rules.