Is there an end in sight for no masks?

[Kathunk]

Off the back of seeing the world leaders at G7 with no social distancing or masks (yes I know they will have been fully vaccinated and tested etc)...
When do you predict we will see an end to wearing masks?
I know lots of people aren’t having to wear them if they are in offices but I work in education and our school requires them to be worn outside as well as inside, it’s been tough all year but unbearable in this heat.
Also creating a lovely sweat storm which is doing wonders for my complexion

I find it difficult going about with my toddlers whilst wearing a mask. Absolutely fine if I’m just on my own, only looking after myself. I know there will be women with 4 children under 3 including newborn twins who don’t even notice their mask, so why am I so feeble, but I find it very hard. I look forward to not having to wear one indoors in public because it heavily restricts my life.

I disagree that masks don't offer any protection. I work on a checkout and come into contact with hundreds of people a day, most of them wear masks. Obviously there are some who don't and on too many occasions I have had people coughing and sneezing at my checkout, you can sometimes see the droplets land on my checkout. Whereas masks aren't going to completely stop any droplets from getting out I am pretty sure it contains them to a certain extent.

Which would you prefer, being coughed on by someone with a mask or without when you work in a job where you can't avoid fairly close contact with people.

Just wondering what the average age is of all you anti-maskers. I am 55 and have a high BMI due to having lipoedema. It's all fair and well if you aren't at high risk of serious illness or death due to covid to be so laid back about not wearing masks but not everyone is in that position unfortunately.

Which would you prefer, being coughed on by someone with a mask or without when you work in a job where you can't avoid fairly close contact with people

I agree with that. i know a lot of people who work in retail and hospitality and also worry about coming into contact with loads of people every day. They don't like wearing masks but if someone is going to cough and sneeze around them then rather a mask on.

I’m not an anti masker. But I find wearing one extremely difficult and limiting. I was advised to shield but it wasn’t possible due to my circumstances. As usual with MN, we have to be one extreme or the other, no middle ground

I'm exempt but hope there will be an end to them soon. If people still want to wear a mask at that point then that's their choice.

Lots of people in Sainsbury's today with no masks. No one said anything to them. Quite irritated me.

I would rather people weren’t challenged as per the government guidelines.

We went to (much maligned) Asda today and I didn't notice anyone unmasked. Not sure that proves anything though!

Where I live mask compliance is still very good. Seen a few lanyards and exempt badges. You can get 3 'Mask Exempt' badges from Home Bargains for 99p if you wanted to though.

The time is rapidly approaching when my masks are going in the bin. Last week the number of cases where I live was just into double figures, I’m fully vaccinated and have absolutely had enough. I really don’t care what the “experts” say any more.

This lovely lady looks so relaxed.
It’s good to see her like this having to be sd at her beloved husbands funeral.
I can’t wait for the day when restrictions for us have been removed also
( shouldn’t be long now 🤞)

@AmIPeriOrAreYouJustAnnoying

Lots of people in Sainsbury's today with no masks. No one said anything to them. Quite irritated me.

It would irritate me too. Wouldn’t you have thought someone would have said..it’s great to see faces again.

What’s the matter with some people ..eh?

@Sgtmajormummy

DS is a medical student. So a bit more in the know than me. He says once vaccination numbers are over 60% of the population then herd immunity is ensured and masks outside become superfluous.

Italy is talking about no masks outside from mid July.

It was estimated to be around 60% for the original virus. The Alpha variant increased it, the Delta variant increased it even more! Herd immunity is estimated to be over 80%.... And that only works if the 80% are spread evenly through society. If you have mixing groups where the % is much lower - such as school-children and students at present - Covid will continue to spread, percolating more widely into the vaccinated population.

I always assume that people who whinge about masks - unless they have a very serious medical or mental health reason not to wear them - are also likely to be people who have had people round their houses and taken little notice of lockdowns. So best avoided!

Why do you assume that people who "whinge" about masks have had people round to their house? What is your logic for that?

Outside yes for the G7 lot, but some of photos show scenes that if a pub was allowing to happen would be in trouble with the local council if they found out.

There are indoors pics too and not a mask in sight.

Childish response.

The definition of "childish" im fairly sure isn't expecting those imposing rules on us to follow those same rules

And you haven't had the experience of someone coughing/sneezing on youyet. When/if they do - particularly now - I'm betting you'd prefer they were wearing a mask to mitigate the amount of snotty, germy air that is blasted into your personal space. (You won't know if they're vaccinated or not, either

I've been almost 60 years on this planet and barring my own DC when they were small it's never happened yet. Maybe I'm just lucky, maybe people get sneezed and coughed on all the time but I must say I've never noticed it.

I'm assuming that all attendees of the G7 are fully vaccinated.)

Plenty people are fully vaccinated they still have to follow the rules our leaders don't have to bother themselves with

I always assume that people who whinge about masks - unless they have a very serious medical or mental health reason not to wear them - are also likely to be people who have had people round their houses and taken little notice of lockdowns. So best avoided!

I hate masks but follow the rules and do were a mask, do you know where most people i saw breaking rules and going to other people's houses they worked for the NHS.

Maybe all these people who whinge about masks are working industry's and keeping people who don't leave home fed ECT.

@AmIPeriOrAreYouJustAnnoying

Lots of people in Sainsbury's today with no masks. No one said anything to them. Quite irritated me.

What would you have liked to have been said to them?

I've been almost 60 years on this planet and barring my own DC when they were small it's never happened yet. Maybe I'm just lucky, maybe people get sneezed and coughed on all the time but I must say I've never noticed it

If you happen to have a job where you are surrounded by the public all day (health/retail/hospitality etc) you will get coughed and sneezed on probably quite regularly.

I suspect the correct term you mean, @Sparklingbrook is 'coughed and sneezed near' rather than on

@Suranjeep

I suspect the correct term you mean, *@Sparklingbrook* is 'coughed and sneezed near' rather than on

Is it? I suspect not. I can't speak for everyone that works in all of those industries but droplets 'near' or 'on' are droplets IMO.

I cannot wait for them to be gone, absolutely hate wearing them and don’t think they do much anyway. Proper medical ones yes, but bits of material shoved into pockets between uses no, I doubt they do much. Didn’t seem to make much difference during the last wave.
And yes I have complied with all rules and am CEV myself but looking forwards to burning them ASAP.

I've been almost 60 years on this planet and barring my own DC when they were small it's never happened yet. Maybe I'm just lucky, maybe people get sneezed and coughed on all the time but I must say I've never noticed it

Try being a teacher then

Try being a teacher then

That's just a stupid statement most of population aren't teachers

ArseInTheCoOpWindow Quite. I was an Infant teacher for nearly 30 years and had coughs, colds, throat infections galore. Since I have been retired I have hardly had a day's illness.

Why does that matter?

Anyone who is public facing gets sneezed or coughed on. How privileged to have reached the age of nearly 60 and never have had it happened.