Sainsbury's and Tesco have joined the bookseller, Waterstones, which has said customers should wear masks to protect staff and other shoppers.

[UndercoverToad]

Good.

@MurielSpriggs

I might be optimistic asking this question But it is genuine because I'd like to know.

A few people have referred to masks definitely working to reduce infection. Is there actually any evidence to support this? I mean peer-reviewed research-based evidence, not anecdotal reports or scientific opinion. I thought there wasn't any, but I will be delighted if that's wrong.

Same questions here, and please do not quote the WHO! Their track record on data accuracy is not great!

I'd point towards this:

Masks and Face Coverings for the Lay Public : A Narrative Update
Thomas Czypionka et al. Ann Intern Med. 2021 Apr.
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33370173/

The abstract of which says:
To date, only 1 randomized controlled trial has examined a community mask recommendation. This trial did not identify a significant protective effect and was not designed to evaluate source control.

But things may have moved on in the meantime.

@MurielSpriggs

I might be optimistic asking this question But it is genuine because I'd like to know.

A few people have referred to masks definitely working to reduce infection. Is there actually any evidence to support this? I mean peer-reviewed research-based evidence, not anecdotal reports or scientific opinion. I thought there wasn't any, but I will be delighted if that's wrong.

I’d like to know this too as it’s so frequently quoted on MN but no studies ever cited.

Chris Whitty initially stated they were only useful in clinical settings and AFAIK infections were just as bad once they were introduced.

Interesting. If you ever query their efficacy here someone always says "of course" they are effective

Sorry to disappoint OP buy I won't be wearing a mask after Monday no matter how much I'm 'encouraged' to.

Haven't RTFT but the idea of having a strictly enforced mask wearing window is actually a good idea if it could help those with health anxiety.

Haven't rtft but seems sensible to me. It's a small thing to do given the ridiculously high number of infections. Some people won't, some people can't, some people feel it's too big a deal to bother, but it sends a sensible signal.

@beentoldcomputersaysno

Haven't rtft but seems sensible to me. It's a small thing to do given the ridiculously high number of infections. Some people won't, some people can't, some people feel it's too big a deal to bother, but it sends a sensible signal.

Spoke to someone the other day who says he never washed his masks.

Another just reuses the disposable ones until they fall apart.

Their attitude is pretty common.

You're quite right though, it is a signal.
I.e. performative and pointless

I don't get the impression that such an unhygienic attitude to masks is common. However if people don't want to wear a mask then I don't see why they can't just get on with that choice and leave people who prefer to wear one to get on with their choice.

It's 26 degrees here today and hot!!! To the point I'm breathing in hot air and my eyes are dry and sore

I can't wait to ditch these things

Well i wouldnt be going through the pain of a smear test in a mask and id be bloody furious that id locked down to protect an NHS that then behaved like that.

Just had an email from Costa, they won't be 'encouraging' (whatever that means) customers to wear masks.

@TheVampiresWife

Just had an email from Costa, they won't be 'encouraging' (whatever that means) customers to wear masks.

That's fair. No one should be getting hassle for being anxious.

I'd love to keep social distancing but that's just because I don't like other people in my personal space.

I'm exempt and I've really appreciated the tannoy announcements in some shops asking for understanding for staff and customers who are unable to wear masks. I suppose this is similar.

It's so shit that people need to be reminded not to be a twat.

@MercyBooth

Well i wouldnt be going through the pain of a smear test in a mask and id be bloody furious that id locked down to protect an NHS that then behaved like that.

So much drama. If a cervical screen is so painful I'd ask for another practitioner. They may be mildly uncomfortable particularly if menopausal but tbh if they are painful I can't imagine for a minute what difference having a thin face cover would make. It's not like full tight fitting ppe that hcps in covid areas have to actually work in for 12 hour shifts.

Our practice will be encouraging everyone to carry on using them as positive cases and now hospitalisations continue to rise. I will do so out of consideration for the staff.

Sorry just to correct PP smear tests can be agonising and in fact i won't be having any more after having two unbearable onesthis year including one by a consultant. No gynae issues.

As you were...

@JaniieJones

Nice empathy bypass.

@JaniieJones No need to be so misogynistic. I havent had one since 2014 personally because of how painful it is. But plenty of women on here have posted about the same problem so it is a problem for many. Mine have always been painful. If that surgery was prepared to provide a Valium or Diazepam then at least they would be meeting halfway. If i was their patient though and their attitude was like that after the lockdowns we have been put through to save and protect their ass i suspect they would have shit compliance with any further lockdowns

Why are some women so dismissive over smear tests? Just because yours was fine not everyone else's was.....at all! Nasty and unnecessary

@gardeninggirl68

Why are some women so dismissive over smear tests? Just because yours was fine not everyone else's was.....at all! Nasty and unnecessary

It is only on MN I see vitriol aimed at women who don't have smear tests, and totally lack of empathy for those who have terrible pain with them etc.

'Nice empathy bypass.'

Totally empathise. I did in fact say yes they can be uncomfortable but to make out wearing a thin face covering would make the experience worse would seem far fetched.

My empathy is also, or actually mainly, with staff having to deal with mask refusers tbh.

Not a legal requirement from Monday but I hope we have tannoy announcements encouraging people to please have consideration for others and continue to use them in high flow areas.

@JaniieJones

'Nice empathy bypass.'

Totally empathise. I did in fact say yes they can be uncomfortable but to make out wearing a thin face covering would make the experience worse would seem far fetched.

My empathy is also, or actually mainly, with staff having to deal with mask refusers tbh.

Not a legal requirement from Monday but I hope we have tannoy announcements encouraging people to please have consideration for others and continue to use them in high flow areas.

I had a panic attack during my smear a couple of weeks ago because my face mask made me feel like I couldn’t breathe through it. I have very painful smears due to my cervix being very far back. They had to abandon it. Don’t give a shit what you think about that, it was my lived experience.

'Why are some women so dismissive over smear tests? Just because yours was fine not everyone else's was.....'

I didn't say it was 'fine'. It is however over in minutes and could save your life so perspective is needed.

Face covers have nothing to do with a quick cervical screen so no idea why anyone would be 'furious' at being asked to wear one.

Well @JaniieJones i protect the church of the NHS by not having them so no need to worry. A face covering would make it worse for many women. Im now beginning to see very little point in the vaccines tbh. If masks work better than the vaccines perhaps the Gov. NHS should come out and say this explicitly

I’m not a ‘mask refuser’, I’m a ‘I wear masks but find it extremely difficult and wish people would have more empathy for that, because it is in fact possible to feel empathy for more than one group of people at any one time’.

'had a panic attack during my smear a couple of weeks ago because my face mask made me feel like I couldn’t breathe through it'

I'm sorry to hear it . You can breathe though them though or else how do you think hcps mange 12 hour shifts in them. I do understand irrational fears aren't easy to manage though.

I hope you can access cbt or something to give you some strategies to cope because screening is vital. Also, I would say any treatment is far worse than the screening bit. Good luck.