Will they u-turn on masks?

[SoSadAboutMyDad]

I really hope so. I’m double vaccinated but still a bit concerned about catching Covid and I’m also not keen on the children getting it. Cases are completely out of hand and one of the hospitals in Scotland has had to cancel elective surgery today because they are full, mainly because of covid. So much for the speech the other day about how opening up is for the health of the nation . England will follow Scotland for sure and end up with hospitals full. Scotland aren’t removing facemasks thankfully and there seems to have been a bit of shock that England is going to such as from Andy Burnham.

AIBU to think that they will u turn on masks by the 19th?

I was on the shielded list and have been fortunate enough to be able to work from home since March 2020 I am double vaccinated and have been really careful.

I think open the nightclubs and whatever for those brave enough or whatever to go to them. But personally I would like to keep the masks for a bit longer (even as a glasses wearer), keep places well ventilated and socially distanced tables in restaurants to protect customers and staff and so it doesn’t go rampant again. I am happy with what we have now and hate this term ‘freedom day’.

@HelloMissus

Who knows? What we do know is that masks are still compulsory in Scotland and their Covid rates are high. Clearly they are not working in Scotland.

How did you work out what case numbers would have been without masks to come to that conclusion?

I doubt it imo but who knows

Damage is done now even if they do. Every other person on the train or in the shop will have the lanyard on, or just won't bother.

Remember though, you could still catch the virus through the membranes in your eyes, a risk that masking does not eliminate.

I have never got why people make such a fuss about masks. They are a pain and they steam up your glasses but it’s really a very minor inconvenience. If close contacts without double vaccines still have to isolate then getting rid of all the measures that help to slow the virus spreading is a bit shit for the younger people who are about to find themselves repeatedly sent home from work over the summer when there will continue to be a rubbish system to compensate them for missed work days.

@SonnetForSpring

I'm beginning to get the feeling that the public will be begging for them to introduce restrictions at some point... and they will oblige.

I find the contrast between what I see on here and on twitter - everyone furious about the removal of masks and saying they'll continue wearing them anyway - and what I see around me in real life astonishing. Compliance with mask wearing had been so high where I live since they were introduced but it's totally fallen away in the last few weeks. There are vocal minorities of people passionately for or against masks, but from what I see a quieter but significant number are just stopping bothering with them. I think they'll largely disappear after the 19th quicker than most people seem to be predicting.

Just wear one yourself. I will be keeping one handy for use in crowded spaces, but will choose not to wear one in other settings. That is taking personal responsibility. I don't feel the need for the government to tell me what is and isn't appropriate at this stage.

@bellamountain

Masks are just a security blanket, we've had them in place for a year now and the virus has still been able to infect people in high numbers. I really do think they are more a placebo than anyone cares to admit.

This with bells on. At the beginning of the pandemic, we were categorically told by the ‘science’ repeatedly that masks were ineffective. Now they seem to have became the panacea for Covid. Absolute BS, can’t wait to burn the bloody things!

The knowledge about the virus changed from the beginning of the pandemic @Randominternetbitch, that's why advice changes, that's why treatment methods have also changed

Cases are completely out of hand and one of the hospitals in Scotland has had to cancel elective surgery today because they are full, mainly because of covid.

How and how?

Cases look like they've peaked according to the graphs (probably a lot to do with the schools closing) and hospitalisations are still nothing compared to what they were?

I'm not seeing what there is to worry about or any reason why Scotland isn't lifting all restrictions as soon as possible?

Again... no crystal ball here but unless some sort of vaccine resistant strain appears and starts to dominate....? Then I can't see why any lifting can't go ahead / will need to be reversed.

All those planning to bin their masks should probably check none of the places they want to go/services they want to use are keeping a mask policy first.

Looking at social media the last couple of days, it definitely looks like mask wearing and deciding whether to go places indoors is going to be the latest major virtue signalling tool.

Hope so, we need some mitigation in place to allow the economy to open. Masks cost little.

@imeanreeally

Cases are completely out of hand and one of the hospitals in Scotland has had to cancel elective surgery today because they are full, mainly because of covid.

How and how?

Cases look like they've peaked according to the graphs (probably a lot to do with the schools closing) and hospitalisations are still nothing compared to what they were?

I'm not seeing what there is to worry about or any reason why Scotland isn't lifting all restrictions as soon as possible?

Again... no crystal ball here but unless some sort of vaccine resistant strain appears and starts to dominate....? Then I can't see why any lifting can't go ahead / will need to be reversed.

Huh? Cases will go up once restrictions are lifted.

They not doing it now because that won't happen, they're doing it now so that cases don't go up at the same time hospitals are dealing with the normal winter spike due to flu and other respiratory conditions.

And because people appear to now not care about tens of thousands of people dying from covid each year and are happy to accept people dying so that they don't have to wear a face mask in Waitrose.

Israel scrapped masks at the beginning of June but was forced to do a U-turn a week or so ago and re-introduce a requirement for masks to be worn in indoor settings.

Poll results

twitter.com/laworfiction/status/1411766156877352966?s=20

@screwcovid

Hope not can't wait to burn the bloody thing

Same here! Got the bonfire ready for 18th!

I think open the nightclubs and whatever for those brave enough or whatever to go to them. But personally I would like to keep the masks for a bit longer (even as a glasses wearer), keep places well ventilated and socially distanced tables in restaurants to protect customers and staff and so it doesn’t go rampant again. I am happy with what we have now and hate this term ‘freedom day’.

So essentially you're happy for the businesses you don't use to go back to normal but the ones you do personally use should be running at half-capacity? Right-oh. are we sharing our "world according to X poster" wish-list of restrictions now?

I'd offer to go next but you probably wouldn't like it...

[quote MercyBooth]Poll results

twitter.com/laworfiction/status/1411766156877352966?s=20[/quote]
To be fair, that is a Twitter account for people who don't like Covid restrictions so I'm not surprised their poll 'revealed' that their followers don't like wearing masks!

@imeanreeally

I think open the nightclubs and whatever for those brave enough or whatever to go to them. But personally I would like to keep the masks for a bit longer (even as a glasses wearer), keep places well ventilated and socially distanced tables in restaurants to protect customers and staff and so it doesn’t go rampant again. I am happy with what we have now and hate this term ‘freedom day’.

So essentially you're happy for the businesses you don't use to go back to normal but the ones you do personally use should be running at half-capacity? Right-oh. are we sharing our "world according to X poster" wish-list of restrictions now?

I'd offer to go next but you probably wouldn't like it...

It's a weird reverse version of the thing happening on MN last autumn when people were insistent that the best thing would be to close all the businesses that they personally didn't use (mostly pubs) but keep open the ones they like... Now apparently the businesses you don't like can crack on, it's the one you use that people want to hobble!

I can't see them u turning, seeing as theyve announced cases could rise to 100,00 a day without a flying fuck... just hoping Mark Drakeford acts with a little more caution (i'm in Wales)

@bellamountain

Masks are just a security blanket, we've had them in place for a year now and the virus has still been able to infect people in high numbers. I really do think they are more a placebo than anyone cares to admit.

Yes and to keep reminding people ‘there is s pandemic!’ Zero evidence for anything else. Would love to have a time machine to see how people in the future judge the superstitious attachment some people now have to masks. Hope there will be documentation to show future historians that many rational people knew they were bollocks all along..

Masks are the covid equivalent of Stockholm syndrome. There will be a minority of people who wear them forever but I think mask wearing will tail off quite quickly and it will be hard to reintroduce on a mandatory basis.

I don't think they will u turn but a lot of places will ask for them such as on transport and the Gov will say it's up to individual businesses, institutions and councils to decide their own rules.