CEV and masks...

[Warhertisuff]

I know lots of CEV people are understandably
anxious at social distancing and masks not longer being a legal requirement. But given cloth masks aren't fully effective and people don't always abide by social distancing, I'm not sure why wearing FFP3 masks or the equivalent wouldn't be a solution, rather relying on others?

I think the Government should pay for a supply of FFP3 masks for all those that are CEV. Although individually quite expensive for someone with limited means, the cost of doing so would be tiny in the overall scheme of things and the hundreds of billions the pandemic has cost. It's the least Government cost.

OP this isn't the answer. FFP3 masks need to but fitted properly as they are nigh on useless if they aren't. They are incredibly uncomfortable and leave marks and bruises on your face. NHS staff only wear these masks when doing an aerosol generated procedure such as ventilating or suction.
As a HCP working with covid positive patients you wear a surgical mask, visor, plastic apron and gloves. This is full PPE

@Mickarooni

Because not one medic or scientist has suggested this on an individual or collective level ?!

That doesn't answer the question at all... I'm guessing the subtext is "Your point if valid, would undermine universal mask wearing, and I like universal mask wearing, so I'm just going to try and shut your question down."

FFP3 masks are a good solution if you are able to tolerate it and understand infection control with donning and doffing. You do need to be fit tested though. I failed the fit test twice before getting the right mask with a good seal. Really common for women to fail the test as their faces are smaller and PPE is made for men.

Surgical masks do little to protect you but they provide some protection to others from you, hence the madness of getting rid of masks.

Having worked throughout the pandemic, I became CEV after a cancer diagnosis in March. I bought some FFP3 masks - not cheap (£180). They are a life line for me while I go through treatment and give me a bit of freedom to do the school run and stay part of my children's lives. I am lucky as a nurse I was fit tested so confident with donning and doffing. They can be difficult to breath in though, especially when walking any sort of distance.

*Heyholi

"If you are cev - buy yourself ffp2 or 3 mask and wear it, what is the problem? Do you need to be told constantly what to do?"
*
This is a shameful comment. There but for the grace of god.

@Heyhohi

But people are wearing cloth masks for weeks without washing them and you would be happy if they wore it. But they are useless.

Which people?

Not me.

I’m not CEV but my child is (who hopefully will be vaxxed soon) and I’ve double masked all the way through, a disposable medical mask with a clean cloth one over the top, the CDC have recommend it, it doesn’t provide the same protection as an FFP3 but definitely more protection than just a cloth and it’s a fairly cheap option.

We have reusable N95 mask, not cheap

And I think that using them is a good idea.

But I don't think it's remotely right to insist that one group of society must be masked, or isolated.

Wearing ordinary masks reduced the chances of everyone and anyone getting covid. We all know that it's eccentric in how it makes some people with no risk factors very ill indeed, even if they have been vaccinated.

It's a question of basic altruism - do we make essential indoors public spaces as safe as possible (public transport, healthcare settings, pharmacies and essential retail) leaving the fun stuff for the healthy only.

Or do we also remove essential services from the 'safe as possible' list.

Anyone could get covid really badly so - by following the logic of the OP - everyone should be wearing high grade masks. Then we could all do things safely.

Oh, but it's horrid, is not what I want, I can't tolerate one, I can't wear one at all. Good points, and just as true of the CEV and CV of anyone else.

But if everyone wore masks in certain indoors circumstances, then the risk pattern changes in a way that benefits everyone, and does not put yet another burden of the CEV who have had a really shitty time of it all along, are missing out on so much that opens up this summer anyhow, and are now being 'helpfully' told that if you just spend (possibly more money than you have) on better masks then you can stop whinging.

Do people really think we're all so thick that we haven't looked at what grade mask to wear in various circumstances?

@Heyhohi

But people are wearing cloth masks for weeks without washing them and you would be happy if they wore it. But they are useless.

Some manky people also don't wash their hands after going to the toilet, but does that mean everyone should stop doing so?

[quote Warhertisuff]@Mickarooni

Because not one medic or scientist has suggested this on an individual or collective level ?!

That doesn't answer the question at all... I'm guessing the subtext is "Your point if valid, would undermine universal mask wearing, and I like universal mask wearing, so I'm just going to try and shut your question down."[/quote]
@Warhertisuff

I don’t actually like universal mask wearing but thank you for trying to read my mind. As mentioned by another poster, people don’t wash them and so few people actually wear them correctly, I don’t see a huge amount of value in them. My comment was because random people online seem to give their opinions and treat CEV people as one homogeneous group. Don’t you think most people have consulted their doctors?

Ffp3s are hard as nails to breathe in. That's a problem when the reason you are cev is crappy lungs.