Why have masks only been worn since Covid.?

[fireflylanegirls]

Why haven’t Dr’s / hospital staff always had to wear masks?

Why haven’t we had to wear masks in a medical environment ie Dr’s or hospital appointment?

Drs are full of sick people so why haven’t we had masks in place for years, wouldn’t this make sense to stop transmission of other illnesses?

I hope masks stay!!

Dentists always wore them, so did surgeons.

Their role in protecting against infection was known about.

Personally I'll be very glad if we can avoid the non-stop respiratory infections that we normally have every single winter, mostly brought home from the hospital by DP who works there.

Several chest infections requiring a week or 2 off work every winter, including a couple that caused long-term lung damage. Could have been avoided if mask wearing in medical settings had been more common place in the last few years.

The impact of masks on the environment is going to be catastrophic. Sadly the neurotic mask-obsessives don't care though

@Cardboardeaux

The impact of masks on the environment is going to be catastrophic. Sadly the neurotic mask-obsessives don't care though

I should clarify - not saying those complying with the current rules (which includes me!) are neurotic, but it's OTT for people to be suggesting the should become the norm forevermore. And we also don't know what the long-term effect on the immune system will be of people hiding away from normal (non-covid) colds...

@nonstopchanging dentists & surgeons wear the masks to protect themselves from any bodily fluids splashing up & into their mouths. We were always told that surgical masks only had around 5 mins of being effective against infections.

Maybe for dentists, for surgeons I think the rationale is to keep the surgical site as clean as possible.

@nonstopchanging yes a bit of both but more to protect from spit rather than aerosols/breath

Having spent the best part of the year so far in hospital and having only spoken to medics wearing masks, I've made all medical decisions with people wearing masks. So I don't need to "imagine' making treatment choices for myself under these circumstances. I've managed just fine.

DH wouldn't be able to manage fine as he wouldn't be able to understand what was being said to him. If he needs medical treatment while mask wearing is compulsory he's going to have to ask if I can go with him and I somehow doubt it would be allowed.

This is not a legitimate argument and is just one of those silly excuses why you can't / don't went to wear a face covering

It's a legitimate argument if you can't communicate! DH can't even take the cat to the vet as he won't understand what's being said to him!