No masks after 19th July - Hoo-blardy-Ray!!!!!

[TeddingtonTrashbag]

As reported in the DM.
So happy if it’s true.

I want to wear them on a bus especially in the flu and cold season. So fed up with getting coughed over and would welcome a mask especially in the Christmas buying/ shopping frenzy.

lack of nuance is what is displayed by the dwindling but prolific posters who are still clinging on to the situation before vaccinations, and who are unable to grasp the difference between ‘cases’ which are overwhelmingly trivial and hospitalisations which are now almost nil.

I loathe masks and think people who wear them outside unless it’s crowded are a little silly

But I have respect for anyone who has done anything to get through this pandemic, including their still disinfecting their shopping which is also a bit daft.

I have obeyed every bloody rule but have never worries about covid personally but would never want to make anyone uncomfortable.

I don’t give a shit if people want to keep wearing them. I hope they’ll extend me the same courtesy when I bin mine.

I don’t think it would be wise.
1.Hospital admissions at my local hospital are increasing (significantly over the last 2 weeks) and they’re back to using other wards as overflow capacity.

2.We don’t know for certain how long vaccine immunity lasts and we know only certain groups will get a booster later in the year. That leaves swathes of the population potentially susceptible.

1. Other respiratory illnesses are likely to increase once all distancing measures are scrapped, so if there is a simple way to reduce circulation of those illnesses (like mask wearing in certain circumstances) and keep some pressure off hospitals then why wouldn’t we?

I'm not sure. I hate wearing them but find a bit of security in them, particularly in supermarkets and other shops. Whatever happens on 19th July, I fear that mask-wearing will be back by the time winter comes, and actually that's not a bad thing, considering the very low incidence of colds and flu last winter. Sanitising and masks does do something.

@Mumdiva99

To be fair they have leaked everything else to the papers before announcing it. But I thought the next date was to remove all restrictions anyway and that'swhat has been delayed...maybe I have misunderstood.

It does seem a bit odd to remove restrictions when cases are still rising....but if hospitalisations aren't then carry on.

Hospitalisations are rising.

Deaths are rising but only very slowly.

I'm virtually deaf so really looking forward to having actual conversations with people again and not being shouted at by retail workers who seem to think I am some sort of idiot.

Aside from that I can't bear shopping/browsing in the buggers so I cannot wait to be able to do that again and maybe even treat myself to a thing or two!

juice because they are dehumanised, hot and reduce social interaction between humans. That’s why not

@knittingaddict

I do worry about a more dangerous variant if we allow cv to be spread unchecked. I hope this doesn't come back and bite us in the bum.

We didn’t wear masks until last summer and it ran “unchecked” worldwide earlier in the year with no so called mutants.

I would not take the word of The Paper that Supported the Blackshirts as being necessarily true. So don't take it as 100% certain.

Ha ha let’s hark back to stories yonks sgo! Really scraping the barrel there!

I was just saying to DH last night that we seem to have a new variant that becomes dominant every 6 months so yes, masks should continue I think

@newnortherner111

I would not take the word of The Paper that Supported the Blackshirts as being necessarily true. So don't take it as 100% certain.

Almost all newspapers are reporting it, too.

I really don't mind wearing a mask at all and might well continue to do so after the restrictions are lifted. But the only time I have to is going into shops (where I'm very quick in and out), in places where you have to wear them to walk to your table and for short journeys on public transport (so far max 20 mins). I'm not sure that I would feel the same if I had longer journeys or if I worked in the shop or restaurant where I had to wear one all the time. I wouldn't judge either way if people started not wearing them. In London at the moment, there are lots of people who don't wear them on the trains anymore so "mask fatigue" has definitely set in already.

@newnortherner111

I would not take the word of The Paper that Supported the Blackshirts as being necessarily true. So don't take it as 100% certain.

I’d put money on it being true. It’s how this government operates - lots of leaks via the media to soften us all up for a subsequent announcement. And of course they’re going to use The Fail, its readership are their core voters.

I don't really like them but would continue to wear one on the tube if busy etc.

I will be pleased to ditch them in quiet areas and outdoors at school pick up.

Can I ask those who want masks to stay - how long do you want them to stay for? Given that by 19 July most people will be vaccinated and those vaccines are clearly working to keep hospitalisations and deaths low and we're probably as protected from serious illness as we're ever going to be. Covid is endemic and going nowhere so how long do you propose masks be mandatory for?

why are people surprised? ALL legal restrictions are ending on July 19th - that means all legal restrictions inc masks, 2m, 1m rule etc

Everything that has been made illegal will be stopped so of course it inc masks.

I would like them to be around on public transport especially during the winter months.

It’s going to feel really strange not wearing one but I can’t wait. I think I’d consider wearing one in the winter again if I have a cough or cold.

they can’t if they’re not legally necessary. I intend to ceremonially burn mine.

What? Of course they can. Same way they can insist on shoes and shirts etc.

[quote Firstbornunicorn]@Lucidas incredibly dense…or maybe pregnant, like me? Or under 16? Or so immunocompromised that you can’t have the vaccine?

Sorry to be “collateral damage”.[/quote]
Being pregnant doesn't prevent you getting jabbed.

I’ll still be wearing my mask because I’m unvaccinated on medical advice from my consultant and on immune suppressants.

If everyone ditches masks then I guess even the supermarket is a no go for me. Great.

@fat13

I’m worried shops and other places will insist on them anyway

scarcely indicator that something is believable