Which would you prefer re masks?

[PuzzledObserver]

The BBC live news page just now was saying there are “hints” that masks and SD may be dropped over the summer.... but there is a risk they will be reintroduced over the winter.

What would you prefer? I mean, presumably ditch them immediately and for ever, but if that’s not possible, would you rather:

a) have a break over the summer in the knowledge they’ll be back towards the end of the year;

b) keep them until we’re certain they will never be back.

I would choose a, by the way.

B

A I think. It’s unpleasant in the heat

B. Keep them inside for the next year.

A. I'm desperate to ditch masks forever but a break would be better than nothing, especially over summer

I'd choose C) stop wearing them for good.

A

I'm with @Whatalottachocca, ditch them immediately and never have them again

A. If there is no need to wear them, get rid of them until there is a need to wear them again. As long as there is no faffing about and as soon as they need to be re-introduced, we wear them again. Not like the other changes that have been brought in by government where they have dithered for days/weeks before finally deciding to act on the situation.

A.
Or keep them in certain situations where there's close contact whilst removing them in other places.

I'm hoping that people don't start invading personal space again though. There's nothing pleasant about someone shoving their armpit over you in a shop rather than wait 10 seconds. I've never liked people breathing down my neck in queues, and have never understood why they think shuffling closer and closer like an impatient creep will make the shop assistant move quicker. I hope social distancing for a year might leave people with a better appreciation of personal space.

I would add an option C and choose to stop wearing the fuckers for good.

I hate them. I can't even see properly with one on because my glasses steam up no matter what I do.

So are lockdowns and masks going to be the default setting every winter

'I'm hoping that people don't start invading personal space again though'

Too late. I was in a big shopping mall today and it was like social distancing had never been a thing. People standing right on top of you, ignoring the directional arrows. Its v frustrating

A
Don't understand, if you dislike masks, why you would want to wear them in winter and summer rather than just winter.

B
Inside
Until we know the vax works on the variants.
Also without masks every bastard who returns from holidays without quarantining or every person with a cough.
Just today outside school 2 kids coughing obviously maskless but in very crowded area. In fact the first was so close i couldnt tell who it was. I just dont trust people to test or isolate.

A.

I can put up with masks in the winter, but hate the sweaty face and headaches in the heat. I’ll wear them if necessary, but would much rather have a break if possible.

Just get rid of them. I'm not convinced they actually protect anyone. Nobody wears them right and the face coverings of one bit of material can't possibly work.
This time last year we didn't have masks. I'm not sure how much they are stopping the spread of virus. I would rather keep social distancing than masks

Do we actually have any evidence that masks make any difference?

B
And I really disliked masks to start with. There is evidence they are a reminder to modify behaviour.

A.

Hate masks.

@Topseyt

I would add an option C and choose to stop wearing the fuckers for good.

I hate them. I can't even see properly with one on because my glasses steam up no matter what I do.

Exactly. 50% of the adult population vaxed and increasing every day, good evidence that vaccination stops you spreading it - so why are we wearing masks?

B.

Having watched the government already try to appeal to peoples common sense and flexibility they’ve got no chance of reintroducing them if needed later on. These boards alone would be full of people claiming they had no idea there was a possibility they could be required again and they’re not doing it.

@MercyBooth with the caveat that I have no inside knowledge or particular expertise, I don’t think we will need lockdown again (thanks to vaccination) unless there is an aggressive new variant which is very good at avoiding them. I think masks are a distinct possibility in some situations.

I would also rather be rid of them, in the sense that I don’t enjoy wearing them. I am however no longer afraid of Covid for myself (which I used to be, because I am CV and was added to the shielding list in February) - because I had it before the vaccination roll out reached me, and I wasn’t too bad with it.

But I am mindful of the need to protect others, both those who I may directly pass it to and others who they might pass it on to. I don’t want to be part of a chain of transmission which ends with someone seriously ill or dead.

As to whether they work or not - I am content that the majority scientific opinion seems to be that they reduce transmission to some extent. So as long as they are being asked for, I will wear one. And I would rather have a break over the summer than carry on until we are promised they are gone for good.

A
This is going to peak and trough for years , wearing an ineffectual annoying piece of material indefinitely is going to make little difference

50% of the adult population vaxed and increasing every day, good evidence that vaccination stops you spreading it - so why are we wearing masks?

Because 50% are not vaccinated? Many of those are at low risk of serious outcomes if they catch it - but not all, and low risk is not no risk.

I'd really like them to go on the school run!