#WearAMask trending on twitter

[Honey12346]

The mask police are out in full force. It saddens me what society has become

@Hppymum123

Those in Japan and other Asian countries have worn masks for years. If you’re claiming that they are more likely to have a suppressed or ineffective immune system, please share a link to your written evidence.

@Hppymum123

Clearly a lot of people forget it’s actually really important to catch illnesses, it’s how our immune system works.

I remember reading about dog ownership being good for your immune system as they bought you into contact with lots of viruses etc.

[quote luckylavender]@ThunderBitch - but you're judging. How does it harm you if someone wears a mask outdoors? And do you have proof that masks are useless? Do share with us.[/quote]
It doesn't harm me if someone wears a mask outdoors. I said I don't understand it and implied I think it's pointless. But I also said it's their choice.

Big randomised control trial from Norway a few months ago clearly showed that masks don't stop transmission. Also the WHO advice from the start of the pandemic said the same thing. So, pretty good evidence. Plus, as pp have said, it's not like we're wearing full-on medical grade ppe. Most people are wearing masks multiple times, often fabric ones, it's probably not even hygienic really.

@Tealightsandd Dave Allen on smoking. Particularly four minutes and ten seconds in.....

Clearly a lot of people forget it’s actually really important to catch illnesses, it’s how our immune system works.

That is not true. You might be confusing viral infection with bacteria. It is, yes, unhealthy for the immune system to use too much anti bacterial products, for example.

Yes she has. As has my sis who has Covid again, despite having it last year and being double jabbed. DD has been told by two consultants to carry on shielding because she's still at risk. But crack on. Burn the mask, feel victorious and pass it on. Woo hoo!

I’m sorry about your daughter and hope she recovers but if she has to shield because she’s at that much risk, people continuing to wear masks isn’t going to change that. They may reduce the spread of covid (depending on the mask and the interaction) but they don’t stop you catching it, not even close. Everyone could wear a mask and your daughter could still get covid when she goes out.

[quote Cheshirewife]@Hppymum123

Those in Japan and other Asian countries have worn masks for years. If you’re claiming that they are more likely to have a suppressed or ineffective immune system, please share a link to your written evidence.[/quote]
In those countries masks are worn to protect against pollution and if the wearer is ill. I'm not sure where this misconception that masks are worn constantly has sprung from.

We are going for herd immunity with a disease that has a higher mortality rate than polio.

63.8% have had a first jab coronavirus.data.gov.uk/details/vaccinations

AZ has 74% efficiency against delta so we need 75-80% vaccination rate to gain herd immunity. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7361120/

We are not quite there yet. Declaring unilateral defeat of a pandemic is questionable.

Google Israel for another example of nearly but not quite there.

@LilyPond2

Masks are proven to be useless in preventing the spread of covid Link?

www.spectator.co.uk/article/do-masks-stop-the-spread-of-covid-19-/amp?__twitter_impression=true

Sorry, I said Norway before but it's actually Denmark. Always get those two mixed up!

@Tealightsandd

Anti maskers protested by mass gathering and deliberately not wearing masks when doing so. Almost no arrests.

Wonder what would happen if smokers protested by mass smoking in a pub, restaurant, or train?

Some serious double standards going on around the idea of personal choice and freedom.

You really need to drop this comparison.

There's no vaccine against smoking related diseases. Half of smokers will die from such a condition. Smokers are able to smoke in public, in designated places.

I don't get what Dave Allen is saying?
He says he doesn't like the smell of cigarette smoke. Well so what? I hate the smell of fish but can't stop someone eating it near to me in a restaurant or on a train.

In terms of health? Well some people might not like smokers exercising freedom and personal choice, but then other people, particularly (but not only) the vulnerable including those less protected by vaccines (blood cancer patients, etc) won't want anti maskers putting them at increased risk.

Either we all have personal choice, as the government says it wants, or we don't.

We can't have just one particular group (anti maskers) given more personal choice and freedom than other groups. Including smokers.

Ha, turns out there is a Danish and a Norwegian study saying there's no evidence masks stop transmission. I linked the Danish one above, this is the Norwegian one - www.fhi.no/globalassets/dokumenterfiler/rapporter/2020/should-individuals-in-the-community-without-respiratory-symptoms-wear-facemasks-to-reduce-the-spread-of-covid-19-report-2020.pdf

Sorry, I said Norway before but it's actually Denmark. Always get those two mixed up Would appear that you also get ingress and egress mixed up @ThunderBitch

Have you read the article?

I can't wait not to have to wear masks. I'm in Scotland so doubt it will be anytime soon, but will be ditching them as soon as I can.

I hate not being able to see properly, can struggle to hear others when they are wearing masks. My face gets all hot, red and sore too.

I have no problem at others choosing to continue to wear them if they want.

I won’t be wearing one after the 19th and couldn’t care less how many people have a go at me or give me a dirty look. I want to interact with my baby when we are out and about, and for them to finally see smiles from strangers! If people feel they are that vulnerable after 2 jabs then unfortunately it’s time for them to take their own precautions and stop relying on the rest of society to keep the minority safe. We have to live with covid at some point and that point is from the 19th. I just hope the moaning and complaining about it ends soon and vulnerable people respect and appreciate how much everyone has given up for them!

At the end Dave Allen is talking about someone blowing smoke all over him.
The person replied "well you drink"

Dave said "yeah but i dont piss all over you when im finished.

Half of smokers will die from such a condition.

We all have to die from something. As the let the bodies pile up from Covid people so often say. Some ex-smokers who gave up because 'smoking shortens your life' ended up dying of Covid in care homes...

There's no vaccine against smoking related diseases.

Currently the majority of the UK population is not yet fully vaccinated. And many of the vulnerable are less protected by vaccines.

You're right though. There's no direct comparison. Smoking may eventually contribute towards the inevitable (death) but it brings in net gains to the UK economy (taking into account taxes, and lower costs on pensions and social care). Covid kills, disables, AND costs the economy hugely.

@Postdatedpandemic

Sorry, I said Norway before but it's actually Denmark. Always get those two mixed up Would appear that you also get ingress and egress mixed up *@ThunderBitch*

Have you read the article?

Of course. Have you?

@Tealightsandd

No confusion here. It’s so important to catch viruses. Hence how the vaccination works.

Here comes the interesting part: The adaptive immune system has what’s known as “immune memory,” meaning that when those cells see a pathogen that has previously entered the body, not only do they help get rid of the invader, they also make more copies of themselves to continue to build a stronger defense in the future so the body is better prepared to fight off the pathogen if and when it reappears, says Starnbach.

@Tealightsandd

Anti maskers protested by mass gathering and deliberately not wearing masks when doing so. Almost no arrests.

Wonder what would happen if smokers protested by mass smoking in a pub, restaurant, or train?

Some serious double standards going on around the idea of personal choice and freedom.

Masks are not mandatory outside so the idea that they should be arrested for something that's isn't even guidance let alone law is completely bizzare

@Tealightsandd

There is a difference as well between asking people to refrain from doing something (eg no smoking) and mandating people to positively take an action, such as wearing a mask.

Masks are a major thing for me. I find it hard to communicate with them on, even though I am not aware of a hearing problem. I also find everyone covering their face, in conjunction with actively avoiding getting close to other people, leads to a really pernicious vibe in society. I’ve supported social distancing and masks because covid is an emergency, but that doesn’t mean I like masks or think people who don’t want to wear them forever are selfish.

Also the disposable masks are not good for the environment, which is a far bigger problem than covid.

Yes I have read it @ThunderBitch , it is a trial that looks to see if face masks prevent the wearer from catching covid.
The scientific community know that masks are slightly effective against ingress.

What mask wearing does at a population level is prevent egress. Spit and stuff coming out of people's mouths. Here the evidence is that face coverings are quite effective.

What do you think the studies you have linked to show?

[quote Cheshirewife]@Hppymum123

Those in Japan and other Asian countries have worn masks for years. If you’re claiming that they are more likely to have a suppressed or ineffective immune system, please share a link to your written evidence.[/quote]
They wear masks when they are ill, so a few days a year or a few weeks max, not for an entire year in enclosed spaces when they are healthy. We effectively don't know what happend to your immune system after wearing a mask for a year in enclosed spaces, but I'd put money on it not being good for your health to wear it 8+ hours a day which some people sadly have to do for work

What do you think the studies you have linked to show?

I think they show that mask-wearing is not effective at stopping the transmission of covid to any degree that justifies widespread mask mandates.

This is from the Norway paper: "Given the low prevalence of COVID-19 currently, even if facemasks are assumed to be effective, the difference in infection rates between using facemasks and not using facemasks would be small. Assuming that 20% of people infectious with SARS-CoV-2 do not have symptoms, and assuming a risk reduction of 40% for wearing facemask, 200000 people would need to wear facemasks to prevent one new infection per week in the current epidemiological situation."