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.

I think logically it should be B, but I secretly want A because it's just so much worse wearing them in the heat. I thought I'd got totally used to them and that my discomfort last summer was just because they were new - I even wore one in early labour without really noticing - until it was really warm where I live the other day and then it was back to horribly uncomfortable, couldn't wait to rip it off my face when I left the shop.

I also logically think that people who say we should wear them if we have a cold have a point, but I actually did have to wear one when I had a heavy cold and it was absolutely horrible, so I think a lot fewer people would be doing it voluntarily than currently claim they would.

A because I won’t be wearing them next winter even if they are “reintroduced” so the sooner the better IMO

@teenagetantrums

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

Exactly. I am just back from Asda and at least 50% of people were wearing them as chin hammocks.

@Stoptalkingtome

I bloody love masks, I'm going to be really sad when they go. I'll keep on wearing as long as possible.

You will still be free to wear them

I think we have to accept that 'it' will never be gone and even when mask wearing is not compulsory in certain situations, we can all carry out our own personal risk assessment and decide whether or not to 'mask up' and sanitise hands frequently. And anyone who wishes to carry in wearing a mask shouldn't be subject to pressure,ridicule, bullying.
On the plus side we may see fewer flu and cold spikes in winter time, and less noro. So if the vaccination programme pans out, and mask wearing is not stigmatised, and we all see the continued value of cleaner hands, we may not see the same level of NHS crises over winters.

I work in a school. We all test twice a week and community rates are v v low. Yet we are still supposed to be teaching in masks (I don't) and enforcing them in class (i only do this if kids are right next to each other and most of mine can sit one per desk). I absolutely cannot wait to get rid of them and all those utterly cringe worthy adverts about outside / inside / rule of 6 that are out there at the moment. Just saw one in a park, outside, groups sitting separately and a man and his DS refuse an invite to join the group because its 'not safe'. Absolute bollocks.

D I'll continue to wear one for as long as possible. Don't have a choice in my job anyway. Besides wearing a face mask has been a godsend these last few months for hiding massive bloody coldsores and a huge puss filled blister just below my bottom lip, plus they're great for hiding my double chin as well I just wish they made them a little smaller because having to tie knots in them each time absolutely wrecks the backs of my ears

A but I don't understand why you would choose B.

HugeAckmansWife my thoughts exactly, I am also a teacher.

C. Get rid of them now and strictly voluntary going forward.

Another vote for option C: preferably ritual burning of all masks immediately. Absolutely loathe the things.

@TigerTulip

I think we have to accept that 'it' will never be gone and even when mask wearing is not compulsory in certain situations, we can all carry out our own personal risk assessment and decide whether or not to 'mask up' and sanitise hands frequently. And anyone who wishes to carry in wearing a mask shouldn't be subject to pressure,ridicule, bullying. On the plus side we may see fewer flu and cold spikes in winter time, and less noro. So if the vaccination programme pans out, and mask wearing is not stigmatised, and we all see the continued value of cleaner hands, we may not see the same level of NHS crises over winters.

Agreed.

@MRex

Can we add people not picking up their dog's poo into the shooting list please?

I'd like to wait for vaccination to go over 70% population where transmission is negligible (just first dose for 70% should get us there), then ditch them outright. Except that I would also like people to forever wear a mask or stay home if they're snotty or have flu symptoms.

Expecting people to stay at home for flu is reasonable, but not colds. We need to get out of the mindset that we can't spread any germs to anyone ever - we need to pick up viruses and be exposed to bacteria for our immune system to be strong. It is especially dangerous to prevent children from picking up all the annoying childhood snotty illnesses, as this is part of how their immune systems develop. If we anti-bac everything in the world, constantly wash our hands and are never allowed to pick up minor illnesses, we risk being vulnerable to more severe illnesses. Our immune systems need a work out to get stronger, just like our muscles and bones.

@littlepeas - children need to be exposed to some viruses and to vaccines in order to build a healthy immune system. Currently they are exposed to 160 varieties of rhinovirus, 88 adenoviruses, 7 coronaviruses, 2 major strains of Respiratory Syncytial Virus. That's on top of all the things we already vaccinate against. Of course we can cope with getting rid of a few of these, and they will not all die out from people wearing masks. Look at German and Japanese approach to healthcare, yet they are not considered sickly nations with weak immune systems.

Get rid for good once all adults have been offered a vaccine.

Of the two choices I’d go with A in the hope they don’t get reintroduced on a mandatory level in winter. Think it should be personal choice to wear them or not now the vulnerable are vaccinated and the levels are low.

I hate the things and they are hard work when you wear glasses. I think they are slowing down people wanting to go shopping etc and there has to be a point we need the economy moving more strongly.

Went shopping the other day. I had a negative LFT and I’ve been recently vaccinated. I’m very unlikely to be passing Covid to anyone but still had to mess about with the mask which I pulled on and off between shops, ended up in my pocket and gave me a sore throat by end of the trip.

C

My DM feels she has to wear one to do her bit even though she has severe COPD, I have really worried that she's actually going to die when she walks in them she's so breathless, but I can't persuade her to take it off.

For me it sometimes triggers panic related to sexual assault when I was unable to breathe, but I'm not wearing a lanyard that would effectively make me feel that I was announcing, "hey, I got sexually assaulted"! (I know that's not what they actually represent, but that it how I would feel, and everytime I put it on it would remind me).

I'm also really not convinced of the benefits from the data especially against the harms.

A

@RedcurrantPuff

A because I won’t be wearing them next winter even if they are “reintroduced” so the sooner the better IMO

Me neither. I’m done with them. Ineffective, unhygienic, triggering and uncomfortable.

I’ve also never seen anyone get bullied or ridiculed for wearing a mask, but have seen plenty of shaming of those who don’t, with no regard for disability or medical exemptions. I have challenged shops near me that have put up “no mask, no entry, no exceptions” signs as this is disability discrimination. I have had patients with disabilities fear going out and doing basic things because they can’t wear masks and they’re scared of abuse (in some cases this has also happened to them, so not unfounded).

I’m sick of the hysteria over an infection control measure that has negligible benefits at best and may even be harmful if worn for long periods. You have to be tested to see if you’re fit to wear one of those N95 surgical ones and they’re really the only ones that have any solid evidence backing them up as effective in the settings they’re used in.

Option D: wear them every winter.

I will be wearing face masks in the winter months (when out shopping or if I have a cold) long after Covid disappears, because they clearly help reduce the transmission of viruses.

They’re commonplace in South east Asian countries so hopefully, people will be more tolerant when seeing them over here, in the future.

@RedcurrantPuff

A because I won’t be wearing them next winter even if they are “reintroduced” so the sooner the better IMO

Me neither. Once they’re gone they’re gone. I won’t be going back to wearing one, and I won’t be going back to social distancing.

@MercyBooth

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

There will be no more lockdowns

Those that way to wear them can continue to wear them but shouldn’t expect everyone else to.

Can we just all remember that WHO said there was little evidence of their effectiveness for the general public?? This was before pandemic hysteria set in......

Rather wear them in winter than summer. I can't drive so have to use public transport, wearing them on buses last summer was horrible, sweat was literally rolling down my upper lip.

A but gone forever. Though I might wear one voluntarily if I have a cold or cough.