Masks one month on

[tomaskornottomask]

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.

I went to the shops yesterday and mask wearing was much less than it has been, even in Waitrose, this was East Midlands

Variable! Went into a Sainsbury & Tesco on the same day in the same area. Sainsbury - hardly anyone wearing them, Tesco - the majority wearing them. Personally, I guage the situation and act accordingly - where the majority are wearing them I will keep it on, if not, off it comes! I guess I'm a sheep (or maybe a coward who is scared of getting tutted at!)

My area of South Wales; still lots of masks. DD’s friends all still wearing them and are really irritated at the “older people who are doubled vaxxed” who aren’t wearing them.
Went to Cheltenham this week and it was as if COVID had never been a thing. No masks, except with the much older shoppers, poor social distancing etc, especially with teenagers. Big groups of teenagers, not a mask between them in all the shops I went in. DD was really shocked , as it was the complete opposite of home.
I just assumed it was inevitable that people would give up mask wearing but it seems to have really alarmed my teen and her friends, which actually surprises me, although I do agree with them.

Large town in Kent and a busy Saturday afternoon at the shops - I'd say about a third wearing masks and majority two thirds were not. I noticed the mask wearers are older people, mostly elderly and middle aged, only a very small handful of people who looked like they were teens and in their 20's had masks on. I was surprised many front facing shop workers have stopped wearing masks as well. It might be less now in summer, I wonder if when we get to October and the winter months ahead when the usual germs are circulating, more people will start wearing them again? I'm still wearing mine as although double jabbed, I have an autoimmune condition and poor general health due to a chronic neurological condition. I'm most likely to get Covid from my primary age dc but still don't feel comfortable inside shops without a mask on.

Mask wearers very much reduced on the tube today in London, about 50%. I was surprised as it's been 80-90% when I've travelled during the week. I guess I usually travel during the daytime on weekdays (taking my preschooler out) and it tends to be more local people travelling to work, do shopping, taking family out. Today they seemed to be more touristy/day trippers travelling into London at the weekend.
We went to one of the South Ken museums and mask use was 20-30%.

I'm at center parcs and I'm pretty sure I haven't seen a single person wearing one all weekend.

I did a big shop this morning, got to the supermarket when it opened and everyone was in masks, mainly older people. By the time I left younger people were coming in and masks were about 50/50.

I'm in the North East. Big supermarkets seem to be about 30 to 50% wearing masks. But smaller shops or hospitality very little. We went to Tim Hortons yesterday and myself and my partner were the only ones wearing masks when not at the table.

In London it's really got noticeably better, even in just the last week.

In Liverpool yesterday and it was less than 10% - maybe even 5% in masks

I was on the Tube today, and fortunately most people were in masks

It's germ soup down there at the best of times!!

Went into Waitrose this afternoon - central London - about 90% of customers and staff wearing a mask. Had brunch at our local deli. They are requiring masks on to enter and when moving from table to toilets.

I know it's the Daily Mail but.....
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9914969/Popular-blue-surgical-face-masks-NOT-stop-people-infected-COVID-19.html

Everyone is wearing them here in SE London - I'm shocked how many still are (there's a lot of elderly people in this area though so it's probably because of that)

“ I was surprised many front facing shop workers have stopped wearing masks as well. ”

I’m not, if I had the choice between wearing one all day at work and not, I would choose not

[quote CottageDwelling]I know it's the Daily Mail but.....
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9914969/Popular-blue-surgical-face-masks-NOT-stop-people-infected-COVID-19.html[/quote]
But you just need to read beyond the headline?

'There is no question it is beneficial to wear any face covering, both for protection in close proximity and at a distance in a room,' study leader Serhiy Yarusevych, a professor of mechanical and mechatronics engineering, said in a statement.

Getting very tired of the media and their poor reporting of scientific articles and clickbait headlines

There is no question it is beneficial to wear any face covering, both for protection in close proximity and at a distance in a room,' study leader Serhiy Yarusevych, a professor of mechanical and mechatronics engineering, said in a statement.

Itsfunny that colin Axon got shot down for saying masks are comfort blanket as he wasn't a epidemiologist, but when other non epidemiologists say opposite you listen.

I'd also question some one who stated there is no question about it.

@Againstmachine

There is no question it is beneficial to wear any face covering, both for protection in close proximity and at a distance in a room,' study leader Serhiy Yarusevych, a professor of mechanical and mechatronics engineering, said in a statement.

Itsfunny that colin Axon got shot down for saying masks are comfort blanket as he wasn't a epidemiologist, but when other non epidemiologists say opposite you listen.

I'd also question some one who stated there is no question about it.

I'm not stating listen or don't listen, I'm saying it's good to read beyond the headline of a daily mail article.

Once you get to the actual information, you can decide if you think it is credible based upon where the research paper. Given that the study found a reduction in transmission (less than that of better fitting masks), the analytic methods are sound, and that this finding has been replicated in multiple studies, I'm happy to go with it.

The interpretation of masks being "comfort blankets" from the analyses in Axons paper didn't actually make any sense, hence why it was largely ignored.

Also @Againstmachine - why would you question some one who stated there is no question about it.

I agree that definitive statements can be a red flag in coronavirus (and much of epidemiological research), but the a solid body of evidence demonstrates masks reduce the amount of viral particles you expel if infectious. It's not a controversial statement - like if he was claiming they prevent all cases or some other rubbish.