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?

I don't feel daft.

The U.K. is world-leading for new cases.

Most people seem to still be wearing them, and I don’t find wearing them that much of a hardship, so no I don’t feel silly.

@ZoBo123

All the posters responding that they will continue wearing them because they have had less colds this year, could it possibly not be the masks but the other measures? Sanitising, ventilation, social distancing, paying people to stay at home, isolating while waiting test results, cleaning surfaces?

It's probably all of those, but why wouldn't it be masks as well?

I’ve had shit loads of colds this year, despite the masks.

@ZoBo123

All the posters responding that they will continue wearing them because they have had less colds this year, could it possibly not be the masks but the other measures? Sanitising, ventilation, social distancing, paying people to stay at home, isolating while waiting test results, cleaning surfaces?

I’m a huge anti-masker but BUT it’s very likely that allergic reactions are down because of mask wearing. You see, pollen is actually large enough to be trapped by mask fibers (unlike viruses that are magnitudes smaller).

Also, surgical masks are somewhat effective against air pollution, mostly PM10 (dust, etc) and to a lesser extent PM2.5 (even finer particles like car exhaust and industrial byproducts). So I could see masks helping to reduce the effects of those hazards.

@FlyingScott

I think it’s weird to wear one when you aren’t mandated to do so

Really? Think of all the other non-mandatory things you do every day out of courtesy, decency and respect.

They are literally useless against viruses so I feel no need to wear them to make other people feel ‘safer’. Sorry.

Nope. I do find it odd that some people still seem to be under the impression that the mask wearer is doing so to protect themselves when the whole point is to protect others.

I know more people with COVID now than at any point in the pandemic who have recently tested positive. I have two kids in Secondary, the COVID numbers are through the roof & I anticipate given that and the lack or restrictions that I’ll have COVID myself within a few weeks. If/when I do or if I a house full of people who do but am still allowed out and about, would you rather I didn’t bother wearing one!?

@UsedUpUsername

I think it’s weird to wear one when you aren’t mandated to do so.

But then again, I sometimes wonder if mask wearers I see are immunocompromised. If that’s the case, they should be wearing an N95 respirator to actually make a difference.

I saw a young lady wearing two masks (one an N95!) plus a face shield. I assumed she’s got an underlying condition and wished her well.

It's just manners isn't it?

There's an older lady I sometimes see in the Post Office, who pops her head round to check we're all masked before she comes in, then thanks us all for wearing one.

She says she wouldn't be able to go out and about if people didn't.

I'd feel like a shitty person if I contributed to a situation that made vulnerable people choose between risking their health or never going out.

I still wear one, can't say I feel daft at all. I don't really understand the rush to breathe in other people's spittle and germs.

I wear a mask {in England} because it's an easy mitigation and I think we should like in Wales.

They are literally useless against viruses so I feel no need to wear them to make other people feel ‘safer’. Sorry.

And you have the qualifications to say that, do you? Many tests have been done to say that they offer some protection at least. They are not useless.

@PrincessNutNuts

What does she plan to do once people by and large stop wearing them? COVID is endemic at this point, we’re all going to get it multiple times in our life just like seasonal flu.

The mask does so very little, it is very possible masks give people like her a false sense of security.

I’ve also had shitloads of colds! It’s the company I keep, nothing I can do about it.

This link to an article about recent peer reviewed scientific study (which was recently published in the Lancet) discusses the fact that it is proven that masks are 80% effective at reducing transmission when worn properly. It’s worth a read.

I’d be curious to know where the masks are literally useless against viruses peer reviewed study is published, or the one that discusses if they can’t stop a fart how can they stop a virus...

I’d be very happy to read a link if it’s reputable (& not just ‘Dave on Facebook’…which I’m guessing it probably is!?).

Not a fucking chance do I feel daft. I still have to wear one at work and I still wear one in shops. This virus hasn’t gone away and more people I know have tested positive so bollocks to anyone who thinks it’s daft wearing a mask.

Exactly PrincessNutNuts. That's how I feel. It's a tiny thing to do which makes a real difference to more vulnerable people. I would be a right arse just to shrug my shoulders and not give a monkeys about people like that.

“ I'd feel like a shitty person if I contributed to a situation that made vulnerable people choose between risking their health or never going out.”

This was my relative pre-covid (still is, obviously), the places he could go outside the home were very limited due to the risks of catching things. Do you feel shitty that you contributed to that feeling among vulnerable people before covid?

@CharlotteRose90

Not a fucking chance do I feel daft. I still have to wear one at work and I still wear one in shops. This virus hasn’t gone away and more people I know have tested positive so bollocks to anyone who thinks it’s daft wearing a mask.

My daughter's partner has just tested positive and he is immunosuppressed. He's ok at the moment, but it's another confirmation that masks are necessary.

@knittingaddict

They are literally useless against viruses so I feel no need to wear them to make other people feel ‘safer’. Sorry.

And you have the qualifications to say that, do you? Many tests have been done to say that they offer some protection at least. They are not useless.

The data is not in their favour. If they worked, we’d see a larger effect in the real world.

I mean, maybe you could get the entire population to get a properly fitted N95 before going out, but even you can recognise the impracticality of it. Also, even N95s aren’t great against viruses, but there’s at least some evidence for it

People still mostly wearing them in my experience of trains and shops and stuff. I still am, mostly force of habit. The only thing I’ve really changed is stuff like having to put one on to stand up and walk to the toilets in a restaurant, or to walk to the exit - but I always thought that was pretty much bollocks anyway.

If people wear them fine.
If people don't wear them fine.

Personal choice.

Yawns. Thereis plenty of evidence thatmasks reduce tranmission - even if a load of people wear them badly - because not everyone wears them badly. If more people recognised the benefits and wore them properly we'd have fewer cases and less risk of another lockdown. We'd also have a lower backlog of people needing urgent medical care.

So I'll continue to see those not wearing masks as responsible for much unnecessary pain and suffering.

@BigThumb

I still wear mine and don’t feel daft. But I’m going to be stopping wearing mine because without fail at some point while I have my mask on, someone will look at me and my mask, walk closer to me and cough at me and then watch for my reaction. I live in an area where people are quite anti mask so while I thought I was imagining it at first and thinking it was me just noticing people coughing because I was nervous, the looking before and after and the exaggerated coughs have made me certain it’s people being dicks. It’s giving me far more anxiety and fear being coughed at than the thought of not wearing one now so I’m giving in to it.

That’s awful! Where do you live? I’m in dense, hard hit south London and we’re still wearing them in the office as well as on public transport and in shops.

Colds, bugs and flu going to be rife this season after 18 months of masks, extra hygiene and social distancing. I will continue to wear a mask on public transport and in busy places just to avoid being ill but given what I've witnessed in the last week I'm in the minority.

You see, pollen is actually large enough to be trapped by mask fibers (unlike viruses that are magnitudes smaller).

Oh for goodness sake. Viruses do not travel alone. They hitch a ride on aerosols which are (relatively) huge and are trapped by FFP2 and 3 respirators. They are also trapped to a lesser extent by other face coverings.

The FFP2/3 masks protect the wearer and other people (if valveless) and ordinary face coverings give protection to other people.