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Original poster

Masks one month on

144 replies

tomaskornottomask · 18/08/2021 16:37

So tomorrow it will be one month since restrictions were dropped in England.

How have you noticed masks changing where you are?

It seems very varied here. Almost everyone the other night in Sainsburys was wearing one even though it wasn't too busy and it's a big store. But M&S food opposite was busy and hardly anyone had one on, even though it's quite a small and cramped store.

I think it seems to have levelled off here there was a gradual decline but it's probably about half and half now on average.

OP posts:
Ginger1982 · 18/08/2021 21:28

I'm in Scotland so still required here but I'm definitely seeing a tailing off and nobody seems to be enforcing anything.

Againstmachine · 18/08/2021 21:41

@Overthebow

*It’s not mandatory but it is advised. Sadly too few people give a flying fuck about others: selfishness personified.

Current guidelines:

“We expect and recommend that members of the public continue to wear face coverings in crowded and enclosed spaces where you come into contact with people you don’t normally meet. For example, on public transport.”*

Yet again it's not mandatory noone is being selfish not wearing one.

Noone gave a shit about anyone before but now we have to protect society when it did fuck all for us.

MurielSpriggs · 18/08/2021 21:44

Outer London/Essex still the majority wear masks in supermarkets, maybe 60-70%? Slowly improving over the last month.

Happy36 · 18/08/2021 21:58

Haven't cases "not increased" because it's / it's been school holidays so many fewer tests?

JaninaDuszejko · 18/08/2021 21:58

We're on holiday in Scotland where it is still mandatory and it was strange going to a service station in England where no-one was wearing a mask then crossing the border and going to a service station where everyone was wearing a mask. At home (NE England) it's definitely dropping off now.

AbsolutelyPatsy · 18/08/2021 22:03

on the tube loads not wearing them, and in the corridor all wearing!

Endlesscleaning · 18/08/2021 22:57

Yet again it's not mandatory noone is being selfish not wearing one.

Noone gave a shit about anyone before but now we have to protect society when it did fuck all for us.

Odd logic! I think (for eg) the NHS has done a lot for a lot of people.

Because something isn’t mandatory doesn’t mean that you are absolved from exercising discretion and doing something off your own bat. It’s not mandatory to look both ways before you cross the road…

SiobhanSharpe · 18/08/2021 23:16

In Grand Arcade, (large indoor shopping centre) in Cambridge today, there were signs ‘strongly advising’ customers to still wear masks and I think most people were doing so.

gogohm · 18/08/2021 23:37

Don't know about public transport but it's down to about 50% in shops and hardly any in pubs/restaurants. I've stopped in the last week or so

gogohm · 18/08/2021 23:39

I've noticed the staff have also stopped wearing them in shops in the last fortnight or so - that's why I felt it was ok not to wear them

5zeds · 18/08/2021 23:44

I live in the SW and everyone still seems to be wearing them around here in shops etc

MercyBooth · 18/08/2021 23:56

Parliament certainly wernt bothered today.

RoseMartha · 19/08/2021 00:12

Supermarkets most people wear one
Shopping centre most people age approx 30-70 wear one. Either side of those ages about a third wear one.

Againstmachine · 19/08/2021 00:13

*Odd logic! I think (for eg) the NHS has done a lot for a lot of people.

Because something isn’t mandatory doesn’t mean that you are absolved from exercising discretion and doing something off your own bat. It’s not mandatory to look both ways before you cross the road…*

Complete nonsensical comparing and you know what I mean about people not caring which has nothing got do with the NHS.

Wearing masks has become something people have become high and mighty about. You do you do. If I chose not I'm not being inconsiderate ect whatever you may insist.

LindaEllen · 19/08/2021 00:26

Where I am in the NW barely anyone is wearing them in any setting. It's brilliant.

Earlydancing · 19/08/2021 00:33

I'm in the NW. Declined use of masks in supermarket - about 80% still wearing them. I have a theory about that but won't go into it here.

I went on a country house tour last week and we were told we don't have to wear masks anymore. But everyone wore a mask. In the cafe on the estate, none of the staff wore a mask although the customers did when they moved around. That's the first time I'd not seen staff not wearing masks.

LemonSwan · 19/08/2021 00:39

I was driving out the supermarket car park today and saw what I think was my lovely silk mask on the floor.

It must have fallen out a pocket.

I didnt want to pick it up because whos knows if it is mine or not?! what if it isnt - eww. What if it is but someone just sees me stopping a car and picking up a random mask off the floor to take home.

It was an awkward and perplexing 2021 dilemma for me.

I did like that mask but if its gone I am not buying another.

MurielSpriggs · 19/08/2021 00:48

@LemonSwan

I was driving out the supermarket car park today and saw what I think was my lovely silk mask on the floor.

It must have fallen out a pocket.

I didnt want to pick it up because whos knows if it is mine or not?! what if it isnt - eww. What if it is but someone just sees me stopping a car and picking up a random mask off the floor to take home.

It was an awkward and perplexing 2021 dilemma for me.

I did like that mask but if its gone I am not buying another.

In my house we've got a washing machine Grin
SuperFairy · 19/08/2021 01:31

Tesco last week, 99%
Tesco this week, 50%

I’m a decrepit 50 year old and wore a mask, I’d say that 100% of non wearers this evening were younger than me.

Hellotoallmyfans · 19/08/2021 01:49

I've only been wearing one to the local waitrose bc it's mainly frequented by older people and I do it out of courtesy to them, also the staff still wear them.

I Went to the sandwich shop the other day, there was a big sign outside telling us to "please wear our masks", got inside and none of the staff were wearing them! I took it off.

Toesies · 19/08/2021 02:43

@LindaEllen

Where I am in the NW barely anyone is wearing them in any setting. It's brilliant.

Disease-spreading! It's brilliant! Ditch your masks now! *Conditions apply.

*During a pandemic only.

imaginethemdragons · 19/08/2021 04:10

It’s strange isn’t it.

I/we do wear masks everywhere indoors still.

I think I have good reasons and justification for continuing to wear a mask if asked.
I’m going to carry on even though I fucking hate them and can’t breath properly with one on (drama Queen!)

imaginethemdragons · 19/08/2021 04:12

Social distancing however appears to have died a death….none of that going on around me.
I kind of step away and move away but damn, people seem to want to stick by perfect strangers!

UpstreamSwimmer · 19/08/2021 05:50

@CatherineMorland

Most people still wearing them here thank goodness.

I can’t understand the complete and utter rank selfishness of those who refuse to put up with a slight inconvenience in order to keep others safe.

Perhaps because there never was any strong real-world evidence for wearing one. And anecdotally I'd say the UK infection levels haven't at all corresponded to mask wearing mandates.

Masks have very little benefit, if at all, and with infection rates low and increasingly more people vaccinated, the reward isn't greater than the hardship.

BooseysMom · 19/08/2021 06:15

Whilst on holiday in Devon we watched "the Boris Show" where he was announcing 'freedom day'. After that, mask wearing on site was I'd say about 20% wearing. All bar staff wore them and I saw one remove his to below his mouth, wipe his beard with his hand and put it back on again! Then continue serving!

It was a heatwave and the outdoor pool was rammed How we didn't get covid on that holiday I'll never know!

I must admit life is better without masks. It's just not natural.