When will masks stop needing to be worn

[Beatinghearts]

It seems infection rates are now quite low.

@Radio4Rocks the vulnerable are protected they are vaccinated?

I have followed the rules to the letter by the way, but in terms of "continuing to social distance" I don't loom large in other people's personal space anyway and to be perfectly honest as PP have said my social media is full of people out and about enjoying themselves and bloody good for them. Even throughout this whole thing people in many of the supermarkets I've been in reach across you or you are closer than the specified two metres.

We cannot isolate ourselves from all risk but if people want to try they can crack on I won't be.

@IcedPurple

Will you at least socially distance to protect the vulnerable?

Before covid, did you routinely 'socially distance' when you have a cold? As in, do you ask others to sit away from you on the bus or move away from everyone else in the shops? Most of us accept that everyday life has a degree of risk, though some here seem to have forgotten that.

Utter stupidity to compare COVID to a cold.

Utter stupidity to compare COVID to a cold.

Okay then: Did you routinely socially distance to protect the vulnerable from measles, polio, diphtheria?

Never wore one and no plans to start now. Everyone likes their space anyway so that doesnt really bother me when out but the masks need to go. Ive only got one ear so its a nightmare trying to talk to someone wearing one.

I'm interested to know where people who plan on wearing masks will apply this to. I can sort of understand it on public transport and supermarkets, but what about concert venues, bars, workplaces (particularly where communication is necessary).

I wouldn't be interested in wearing a mask in any of those places.

Not sure of the answer to the op but many of the posts remind me of an article I read a while back about people publicly burning their face masks at the end of the 1918/19 flu epidemic. The relief at getting rid of them is obviously timeless

Utter stupidity to compare COVID to a cold.

I was responding to someone who mentioned colds. Take it up with them.

And flu causes fatalities every year. Did you 'socially distance' to protect people from that? Surely if you're at high risk from something, it's up to you to take precautions rather than demand that the rest of society be constantly on their guard just in case they might possibly briefly come into contact with you?

The sooner the better as far as I’m concerned. I’m sick of them.

I’m even more sick of being labelled selfish when the vast majority of the U.K. population have sacrificed all the things that make life worthwhile for the best part of 14 months.

I think it would be good to wear them in crowded indoor spaces in the winter to help prevent flu transmission, but otherwise I suspect they'll stop soon.

When I was in a branch of Seasalt recently they had a load of reusable ones for sale and I thought "good luck with that". Nobody will still be buying them now. I'll probably keep a couple for when I am eg cleaning something and don't want to breathe rubbish in.

I’m even more sick of being labelled selfish when the vast majority of the U.K. population have sacrificed all the things that make life worthwhile for the best part of 14 months.

But that's not enough apparently. They are selfish if they don't want to carry on making sacrifices forever

I'll be wearing one for the foreseeable. Undergoing chemo currently for lymphoma and even when/if my treatment ends I'm going to have a compromised immune system for a while.

Not having had a cough or a cold for a year has made me realise just how bloody unhygienic we are in general, going round coughing sneezing on each other in close proximity. It's all changed the way I think about the inevitability of germ transition and I'm happy to protect myself and others with a mask for longer than I officially am asked to. It's a minor inconvenience in my experience.

I shan't be wearing a mask anywhere once we can stop, as for colds I only had one about once every 5 years anyway, when I was at work colds used to go round and it was mostly those with young children that seemed to have them.

I’m even more sick of being labelled selfish

Best to learn to just let that petty attempt at shaming you just roll right off your back. 'Selfish'. 'Yep, sure as fuck am.'

I was speaking to a taxi driver the other day (we're in Scotland), who reckoned we'd be wearing them for another year!!
I don't think so though.

I was speaking to a taxi driver the other day

I would take anything taxi drivers say with a lump of salt.

@eatsleepread

I was speaking to a taxi driver the other day (we're in Scotland), who reckoned we'd be wearing them for another year!! I don't think so though.

Unless the taxi driver is Boris Johnson moonlighting for extra cash not impossible I wouldn't put too much stock in the opinions of a random man on the street.

I'm going to using my snood and carrying on covering my face on buses

No definite news yet but masks beyond June are a possibility 😟
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-56964296

I've just read on the BBC that masks and SD will probably continue after June. So nightclubs will reopen but you'll need to wear a mask to nip to Sainsbury's?

@Wizzbangfizz

I don't think I will if it is law, I think that the people on here promoting their continued use should wear them if they wish because as adults we should all choose our own risk and what we are comfortable with. I'm willing to take my chances of getting colds/flu as I was before without giving it a seconds thought.

This

I don’t understand why so many people (barring exemptions) still have such an issue with them after all this time. I didn’t like them at first but now I forget mine’s on after 30 seconds.

I certainly can’t get worked up about potentially having to wear one in higher risk environments like public transport or at the doctors/hospital.

I do understand they can be irritating to wear with glasses (I wear them for driving/reading) but the people I’ve listened to moaning the loudest over the past 12 months don’t wear glasses.

I don’t understand why so many people (barring exemptions) still have such an issue with them after all this time

What doing you understand?, People are social animals we go on facial expressions, my glasses steam up, I can't see my footing, I feel my breath on my face, developed skin problems.

Really you can't see why people don't want to wear them it's not normal wanting to wear a mask.

@Lightningrain

I don’t understand why so many people (barring exemptions) still have such an issue with them after all this time. I didn’t like them at first but now I forget mine’s on after 30 seconds.

I certainly can’t get worked up about potentially having to wear one in higher risk environments like public transport or at the doctors/hospital.

I do understand they can be irritating to wear with glasses (I wear them for driving/reading) but the people I’ve listened to moaning the loudest over the past 12 months don’t wear glasses.

Couldn't agree more. What a load of babies.

Absolutely fine if you have an exemption - and I don't bat an eyelid at people not wearing one before anyone decides to bash me about that, if you're exempt, you're exempt and I'm happy to keep wearing one as long as it's law to protect those who need it.

@Againstmachine

I don’t understand why so many people (barring exemptions) still have such an issue with them after all this time

What doing you understand?, People are social animals we go on facial expressions, my glasses steam up, I can't see my footing, I feel my breath on my face, developed skin problems.

Really you can't see why people don't want to wear them it's not normal wanting to wear a mask.

I can't speak for the PP but while I don't like it (I also lose my footing, it's quite weird how it does that!) and I don't think it's 'normal' to wear one, I don't think it's a problem to wear one till this is over. I just don't think it's a big deal. People are so babyish about it.

Entitled, babyish yet again people don't agree with you call them names.

Masks aren't normal people dont want to wear them and cases are so low you shouldn't have to.

The true selfish are the people like you who want everyone to submit to their whims.