Non mask wearers

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I’ve been generally observing in recent weeks since 19th July (and before too really) and the majority of people I see with no mask are men. I noticed for a while in the pandemic that in petrol stations it was men with no masks on, so got me noticing when I am out. Does this seem the same to you?
I am just interested, is this a general view or me being sexist (hope not). I wonder if men feel like they ‘look stupid’ in a mask so less likely to wear one?

Mixed bunch here. Tesco today I saw maybe 20 people with masks that was it. All the rest none.

Went to m&co. Saw 1 cashier with mask on. 5 others in shop Inc me no mask.

Bm stores again maybe half wearing them. No staff

I personally don't care if people do or not.
There was also a man so close like 1ft from me leading conveyor.. Again I don't care. It feels more normal

www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2020/07/04/national/science-health/japans-history-wearing-masks-coronavirus/

In Japan, it’s sometimes said that the eyes speak as much as the mouth. Perhaps the proverbial phrase captures the essence of the nation’s affinity for face masks, a relationship that can be traced back centuries

Some masks can help with breathing difficulties caused by heat.

With global cases of the novel coronavirus on the rise as Japan’s humid summer arrives, companies across industry lines are rushing to produce cooling and drying face masks to help cope with the sweltering heat that medical experts warn could lead to breathing difficulties and dehydration.

@Tealightsandd

www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2020/07/04/national/science-health/japans-history-wearing-masks-coronavirus/

In Japan, it’s sometimes said that the eyes speak as much as the mouth. Perhaps the proverbial phrase captures the essence of the nation’s affinity for face masks, a relationship that can be traced back centuries

Some masks can help with breathing difficulties caused by heat.

With global cases of the novel coronavirus on the rise as Japan’s humid summer arrives, companies across industry lines are rushing to produce cooling and drying face masks to help cope with the sweltering heat that medical experts warn could lead to breathing difficulties and dehydration.

I can’t access that article. The bit I can see before the popup shows a woodcut and rather amusingly (given comments passim about people wearing masks incorrectly) shows the wearer’s mask beneath the nose

Love to see how this would go down in the UK... 🤖

www.euronews.com/2020/11/26/this-robot-in-japan-can-detect-if-customers-aren-t-wearing-face-masks

With his child-like voice, Robovie seems like the sweetest of robots. But his message is a serious one: "Wear a mask!"

He's been introduced into a shop in Japan to ensure customers are following COVID-19 guidelines.

A different slant.
I am in the North, and have spent time between 4 different towns this past year.

I noticed that mask wearing in general, whether prior or after July 19th seems to be taken up more strongly in areas with a higher income or smaller population.
In more depressed areas, and especially certain stores (off licences, Lidl, Iceland, Primark, etc), I noticed considerably less adherence to restrictions. In one large town, a fairly poor area with low levels of education and employment (but a 300,000 population) most shops digit even provide hand gel or any info relating to covid.

I haven't noticed a gender difference, although many do tend to be younger or in groups.

When shopping in less depressed areas, in Booths, Marks&Spencer, Lakeland and such, more people of all ages tended to wear masks.

What does this say? I dunno! Perhaps there is a class/income/educational divide? A fairly incendiary topic nonetheless.

@MurielSpriggs

Hi there *@herecomesthsun*

The vulnerable protect themselves by wearing a mask of the correct grade. The evidence for the efficacy of this for the wearer is very strong (much stronger than the evidence for the benefits of lower grade masks for preventing spread to others).

There is some residual risk (to all of us) but I'm happy to take it. I'd agree that anyone who wants to reduce risk to themselves as close to zero as possible will need to live a sequestered life.

care to cite the stats for this? Figures? Studies?

As this isn't the line Whitty and Vallance have taken, for example?

I went to the Manchester Trafford Centre today. I'd say less than 20% of people were wearing masks. The maskless were all ages, male and female, all ethnicities.

In addition, I noticed that many people had no respect for personal space at all. I had people standing closer to me than I would tolerate before Covid. A server at a restaurant got right in DD's face to take her order (he was being nice to her, kneeling down to talk to her etc., but he was probably less than 50cm from her face at the time ).

Living somewhere where mask usage in shops is around 90% or so, and people still make space outside for others to pass, I can really see why Manchester has consistently been a Covid hotspot.

But it certainly didn't seem to be a male thing. Maybe an income thing? Or a sort of herd mentality? It was very interesting to observe and only slightly disturbing to think of all the Covid soup I found myself in

care to cite the stats for this? Figures? Studies?

As this isn't the line Whitty and Vallance have taken, for example?

Hi @herecomesthesun

They are worn by medical professionals when in close proximity to all sorts of highly infectious people, for example intubating covid patients. They are very effective.

Here's a somewhat impenetrable study:
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7264937/
The greatest reduction in estimated mean risk of infection was for FFP3 masks, which reduced baseline mean risks by 94% and 99% for 20-min and 30-s exposures, respectively.
This is reduction in risk of the wearer becoming infected, not reduction in risk of them infecting others.

@MurielSpriggs

care to cite the stats for this? Figures? Studies?

As this isn't the line Whitty and Vallance have taken, for example?

Hi @herecomesthesun

They are worn by medical professionals when in close proximity to all sorts of highly infectious people, for example intubating covid patients. They are very effective.

Here's a somewhat impenetrable study:
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7264937/
The greatest reduction in estimated mean risk of infection was for FFP3 masks, which reduced baseline mean risks by 94% and 99% for 20-min and 30-s exposures, respectively.
This is reduction in risk of the wearer becoming infected, not reduction in risk of them infecting others.

I meant evidence that supports the notion that the CEV should go round in FFP3s vs everyone sensible wearing masks in crowded indoor settings as advised by Chris Whitty.

No one has I think yet suggested that vulnerable people should live out their days in FFP3s so I think you are quite original there.

It's great to see that FFP3s do better than vacuum cleaner bags or pillow cases in your study but I'm not sure that they would work in everyday life all that well.

My 21 year old niece and her boyfriend are really poorly with covid. She did her test yesterday. She doesn't wear a mask and the days leading up to the test she was at so many different places that I worry she may have spread the virus or would she had she been wearing a mask? Obviously she caught it from someone else. I still wear my mask in shops.

I'm female and no longer wearing a mask unless the shop in question asks that you do (rather than saying you can if you want) whereas my dh still wears one in all shops, etc.

I was never comfortable wearing one and find it harder to breathe when I've got one on. It also fogs up my glasses badly, making it impossible to see.

I'm CEV, but am fed up living like this and want to get back to normal (ie, pre-covid) times and would rather take my chances.

@herecomesthesun

Yes, I thought the idea of vacuum cleaner bags and tea towels in the Wilson study did seem a little bit creative