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.

Haha, strike that!

A, A, a thousand and one times A!

😂😳

The evidence last January was sparse, but it indicated that in a health setting with proper training they have an effect, but when the general public used them (mostly improperly) this diminished to nothing.

Subsequent studies with Covid found that perhaps they made a bit of a difference, but not a huge amount. Back when we needed every single percentage reduction in transmission that was easy to do, it made sense. Now it proably doesn't.

I'd get rid, except for perhaps people with symptoms of any respiratory illness in community settings. I've always hated people who are obviously ill coughing and sneezing in public.

I'd like to get rid ASAP. I work a very manual job and it gets so hot in them. Dread to think what it'll be like come summer!

D - I’ll choose to continue wearing masks in crowded public places for the foreseeable future - regardless of local regulations because there is excellent evidence for their effectiveness, I have loved not having repeated colds and viruses last 12 months, and even as a glasses wearer who has to wear one for 12 hour shifts they don’t especially bother me.

C C C

Discard and never wear again.

For those that want to continue, or want to in certain circumstances then I think that’s fine too.

B

Because if they were reintroduced in the winter, it would be like the second and third lockdown..not so many people following the rules.

@AgeLikeWine

B. The country can’t afford more lockdowns so we have to open up as much as possible without risking them. If that means the trivial inconvenience of wearing a mask in shops contains, so be it.

It’s not just brief periods in shops though is it

C) Ditch them immediately and never wear them again!!
Awful, hateful things.

@butterpuffed If they were re introduced in the winter how many who have had the vaccine would still get their booster shots after we were promised the vaccines are the way out of this.

I'd get rid, except for perhaps people with symptoms of any respiratory illness in community settings. I've always hated people who are obviously ill coughing and sneezing in public

When you say community settings, where do you mean specifically? Because it almost sounds like you think masks do work even though you stated the opposite.

Don't really care either way. I quite like wearing them out and about in shops etc, I like being able to hide. But I get that others hate them so, I'll go with the flow.

Get rid - they are so awful. They prevent you behaving and interacting like a human being.

Removing masks now?? Is this this year's EOTHO?

If I had to choose between those I'd choose B, but I think it's too soon. We still need people to care about distance and not breathing all over each other, and saying masks aren't needed any more would send completely the opposite message.

B but preferably just single not double masks as also adopted internationally wearing widely available standard surgical masks along with a combination of other standard globally scientifically acknowledged best risk mitigation practices including physical proximity, proper not superficial personal hygiene and ventilation etc etc. I would also include double dose vaccination (and any necessary third boaster inoculation for evolving more contagious and damaging variants). This may exclude those with medical complications and young children and infants etc. Those who opt out of any of these personal health and safety benefit measures do so at their own risk and potential risks to others crossing their paths. The pandemic only needs one asymptomatic to trigger rapid mutating super spreading! Do all of this along with real targeted testing track, trace and isolate to allow the majority fit and healthy to be economically active while treating the sick in isolation. Do not lockdown a majority uninflected population because of no test, track and trace of the unidentified minority!

C

I never want to wear the fuckers again

[quote MercyBooth]@YorkiePanda Ive not had a smear test since 2014 as i find them VERY VERY painful so i certainly couldnt do it in a mask.[/quote]
This is me. Totally. I am v late for mine because of gp not doing them at first and then can’t do it in a mask. Very very painful. I take vallium beforehand but even this only helps slightly. It’s still almost unbearable with muffled screams and sobbing.
How do you get through them? Would love to know what people in our position do

I think "b"because if we did "a" lots of people would just refuse to start wearing them again I think.

@DottyWott

D - I’ll choose to continue wearing masks in crowded public places for the foreseeable future - regardless of local regulations because there is excellent evidence for their effectiveness, I have loved not having repeated colds and viruses last 12 months, and even as a glasses wearer who has to wear one for 12 hour shifts they don’t especially bother me.

I absolutely agree. They are a nuisance - that’s all. So much fuss about them. I will continue to wear them in indoor spaces for the foreseeable. The slight unpleasantness of wearing them is nothing to keeping the virus ( and other viruses ) at bay . This pandemic is not over yet and we need to do what we can to keep numbers low here. Vaccination is not enough (yet)

@OnTheBrink1 Its shit isnt it. I just dont have them anymore. Im no longer sexually active so im low risk (i realize not no risk as there is no such thing)

To be honest I think I might always wear a mask on public transport in the future. I think ditching them and then bringing them back is a bad idea because compliance will be low when they’re brought back.

@MercyBooth I'm the same! But managed to get a mask free smear test from a lovely nurse who couldn't have cared less if I was wearing one or not! In her words the smear test was far more important!! I rang my surgery explained the situation and they were lovely! It's definitely worth a call and seeing if you can find an understanding Nurse or Dr, good luck xx

From those two options, A.

But actually C - get shut, for good.

C - no masks ever again. If you want to choose to them up you. I won’t understand it but I don’t care less if you feel better wearing one.
Graphs comparing US states with mask mandates still in place to those where the governor’s have scrapped them seem to suggest that they actually do more harm than good .

A. I want masks and social distancing gone ASAP.

Save the planet and get rid of the bloody nasty things