If you're still wearing a mask are you feeling a bit daft?

[LegendaryReady]

If I'm honest, I've never been completely convinced about the value of masks, especially the way most people use them, but I have always worn one in indoor public places since we were first asked to do, as I know it makes some of the people around me more comfortable.

I've continued since restrictions were relaxed, although admittedly I'm less concerned now if I find myself without one by mistake. However, I've noticed that I am most definitely in the minority now and I feel like people are judging me for being one of those paranoid over anxious types and I'm not, I'm just trying to do the right thing. I think people are huffing when I'm the only one in a queue wearing one and there's a delay because I can't be heard properly, for example.

So if you're still wearing one, do you feel comfortable doing so?

If you're not wearing one do you have an opinion on those who do?

No I don't feel silly.

certainly not silly.....

I look at other people who are wearing them and think "thank you"

And today I went for blood tests and the whole place was set up with social distancing, one way people flow and YES, everyone asked to wear a mask.... I just thought, thank goodness, some people with sense

This is my FFP2 Cambridge one so probably looks fabric like at a glance

I just go with the flow wherever I am but it’s not always easy to predict..,.eg today, ground floor in M&S, everyone in a mask so I put mine on; up the escalator to the first floor, hardly anyone in a mask! Felt a bit of a wally but kept it on.

I'm not wearing one and don't have an opinion on those that do. Each to their own. I do try to give mask.wearers more space though

My honest opinion is when I see someone wearing a mask, I think they have themselves or a close friend/ family member with serious underlying conditions , they suffer health anxiety, or have lost someone to Covid ( or similar)

I've noticed a big change in mask wearing over the last week. Most people I see aren't wearing one. I was the only shopper in my local Tesco with one on earlier.

I'm genuinely not sure what the point of wearing a mask is in that situation. This is not over but we wear them to protect others not ourselves. Essentially I wear a mask to avoid catching Covid and to protect my vulnerable relations but they are now more at risk whether I wear a mask or not

Not at all.

I don't understand how people can not see the value of masks when they slow down the speed and some what change the direction of aerosols coming from your mouth.
You only have to look at used plastic visors to see the muck on them where people have been breathing or talking.
It catches something doesn't it!

Most people are wearing in super markets and I also think thank you.

I'm more worried about winter and all the other bugs doing the rounds, something happened to help the other bugs disminsh!

Absolutely not. Me and kids all wearing N95/FPP2 masks in school and whenever we are indoors. We are happy to do so as we have ecv family members but would still wear even if we didn’t because frankly, none of us particularly want long covid if we can avoid it. All European countries are still wearing masks (including schools) and even in kids in American schools are. We are unusual in the UK because we’re not wearing masks and doing more to stop the spread. The science shows they help reduce transmission and N95 / FPP2 masks help to reduce your chances of getting infected by up to 95% (hence the name). Why wouldn’t you want that?

No. But l9ts of people not wearing one but guess what, numbers are rising here again.

For many people’s circumstances the negative aspects of wearing FFP2/3 masks outweigh the potential benefits in terms of covid. I would have thought that was obvious.

I am still wearing them as a whole.
When I pop into Asda at 7 am on the way to work, I don't tend to have one on now, but if I go in when it's any busier then I wear one.
I don't in day-to-day life use public transport but I most definitely will wear one when I do.
I usually get cold and flu a couple of times a year but I haven't at all this year - touch wood - so I am not in a rush to completely stop wearing them.

I wear one. Many around me don’t. I have had some looks and huffing and also those same people not recognising the fact that clearly I still feel uncomfortable and want to maintain my distance-the mask is a pretty clear clue, then invade my personal space. At the weekend when I had to take my son trainer shopping for school I had to ask people to stand back in the queue to pay; one laughed at me. 🤷‍♀️ I don’t care. I want to stay safe. Numbers are rising all over.

I will also say that since all this started and mask wearing came in, I haven’t had a single cough or cold and am normally a huge sufferer.

Envious of all those who haven’t had coughs and colds… I always wear a mask and have had loads of coughs and colds in the past 20 months… more so than usual!

I haven't had any coldsq or anything since mask wearing, huge difference from before!

I haven't had a cold or other illness since all this started either and that's despite doing child care for my grandchildren.

@hugocat

My honest opinion is when I see someone wearing a mask, I think they have themselves or a close friend/ family member with serious underlying conditions , they suffer health anxiety, or have lost someone to Covid ( or similar)

You mean they're "weak" in some way? Nice.

It's not true either, so you're wrong.

@Popcornbetty

I haven't had any coldsq or anything since mask wearing, huge difference from before!

I have two children at primary school, one at nursery, care for an elderly relative and work full time out of the home with multiple different people so I guess it would take more than a mask to protect me from all those potential cold germs

@FfrothiCoffii i have young dc too in the same environment but still have been healthier on the whole since mask wearing.

We have had as many colds as usual, with my nursery attending children. The bigger difference for us was back in 2019, when my husband changed jobs and no longer commuted via train into London

[quote Popcornbetty]@FfrothiCoffii i have young dc too in the same environment but still have been healthier on the whole since mask wearing.[/quote]
Fab

I went into a supermarket yesterday and I only saw one person without a mask and she was a member of staff. But it seems to depend on the time of day - other times there are more people without.

I'm no tat all keen on the idea of going on a train where most people aren't wearing masks. My husband went into the office on Tuesday and said it was about 50%. The train wasn't packed but they will steadily get busier. I don't know (a) what the government was thinking removing the need for them on trains/buses/trams and (b) why the operators don't make it a condition of carriage like TFL.

My honest opinion is when I see someone wearing a mask, I think they have themselves or a close friend/ family member with serious underlying conditions , they suffer health anxiety, or have lost someone to Covid ( or similar

No I don't fancy getting covid, a cold, or flu. I am not remotely vulnerable, don't live with anyone vulnerable, don't have health anxiety and barely know anyone who's had covid, never mind lost anyone to it. But maybe that's because we've all worn masks/face coverings in indoor spaces since March 2020!