Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Covid

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

For those who want restrictions to return...

357 replies

Warhertisuff · 22/10/2021 21:43

When would think it reasonable for those restrictions to be eased again?

Or do you believe restrictions should be a permanent, or at least cyclical, part of life now?

OP posts:
Scottishskifun · 23/10/2021 08:55

@TheVampiresWife are case numbers hit over 820+ per 100,000 for September, England and Wales is behind that.
Wales current rate is higher than Englands and has masks in most settings.

@Warhertisuff completely agree our secondaries haven't stopped wearing masks it keeps getting extended, extended etc nobody in Scotland expects them to lift it before next Spring.
But the cases have been very high up here last month only coming down now and majority in school age children no figure....

The problem I have with the rules in Scotland is the lack of choice and actually I have found people give me more space when I don't wear a mask compared to when I did (LC prior to vaccination means my asthma and breathing is a lot worse).

They are also seen as a magic solution. It's worth seeing the studies on ventilation and delta variant. It still escapes masks and still can be caught even wearing masks. The vast majority of people wear a cloth mask, don't use it properly either by reusing it, touching the front, not changing frequently enough through the day etc etc etc. The only people I know who use them properly now is healthcare professionals.

They are a visual safety blanket in many situations especially cloth ones!

userxx · 23/10/2021 08:55

[quote herecomesthsun]@Delatron

Masks continue to be a good idea over this winter. We can review them again in spring 2022.

There, you have an answer.[/quote]

No thanks.

Chessie678 · 23/10/2021 08:55

Why would we expect masks to make a difference in England when rates have recently been higher in Wales and Scotland with mandatory masks and some of the plan b measures? It seems highly unlikely that they are reducing spread by 25% in Scotland and Wales at the moment. And Germany had 20k cases yesterday.

Delatron · 23/10/2021 08:56

Far too fact based an argument @Chessie678

I’ve said the same many times. It tends to get ignored...

Delatron · 23/10/2021 08:58

The psychology behind mask wearing is fascinating. I do think some people think they are like a protective shield. They make people feel safe and in control. Like they are doing something.

IveGotASongThatllGetOnYNerves · 23/10/2021 08:59

Was it? I'd love a link, thank you.

thewhatsit · 23/10/2021 09:00

No one wants restrictions

I have seen comments in the last day or two alone saying that they would quite like Christmas restrictions because they want a small Christmas and another one saying they liked the lockdown and would be quite happy to have another one.

I honestly believe that a certain percentage of the population look back on the first lockdown in particular when it was permanently sunny and there were rainbows in windows and people clapping on Thursday evenings with so much nostalgia as if it was a different, more simple and wholesome age. They want life to be like that again.

RichTeaRichTea · 23/10/2021 09:01

I think there is also the thing of “being seen to take covid seriously” and “a reminder that covid hasn’t gone away”.

RichTeaRichTea · 23/10/2021 09:01

@IveGotASongThatllGetOnYNerves

Was it? I'd love a link, thank you.
See a few posts back - lots of replies
herecomesthsun · 23/10/2021 09:08

@Delatron

The psychology behind mask wearing is fascinating. I do think some people think they are like a protective shield. They make people feel safe and in control. Like they are doing something.
yes, wearing a mask over your nose and mouth is reducing spread in a pandemic by 20-25%. Some people want to do that.

Reusable FFP2 masks also offer some protection to the wearer.

herecomesthsun · 23/10/2021 09:09

@Delatron

Not looking great in Germany right now. Cases up by 70% even with their proper masks!!
Still a lot lower than us, though.
IveGotASongThatllGetOnYNerves · 23/10/2021 09:13

Yes, I xposted with your link. Thank you for posting it, I'd missed that one.

Just had a quick read. Crikey, people don't like answering that 🤣.
I don't know why people got so angry. It's not an unreasonable question to ask people - what would the situation need to be for you to agree that bringing back some restrictions for a period would be a good idea!

Kiduknot · 23/10/2021 09:16

@LilyPond2

I would reintroduce the requirement for children not to attend school if a member of their household has Covid (unless the child has already had confirmed Covid in the past 6 months, as reinfection within that timescale appears very rare). I would keep that one indefinitely.

Obviously, if there was an absolute game changer such as a new dominant Covid strain that caused much less severe illness, all policies would need to be reviewed.

This
UsedUpUsername · 23/10/2021 09:16

yes, wearing a mask over your nose and mouth is reducing spread in a pandemic by 20-25%. Some people want to do that

Evidence please.

Reusable FFP2 masks also offer some protection to the wearer

No such thing as a reusable FFP2. There are many fakes on the market though.

Thing is, effective masks need to be air-tight and because of that, they are uncomfortable, it’s unlikely the general public can tolerate them and use them correctly. That’s just the way it is, and why they shouldn’t be mandated.

People THINK they are protected and really, really aren’t. It’s no small thing.

ILookAtTheFloor · 23/10/2021 09:17

@SeasonalNamechange

i wont be wearing a mask again..they can bring them back but i am now exempt so wont bother

i suspect many of us will be the same

This will be me too.

I'll be ordering that sunflower lanyard the second they bring back the mandate.

RichTeaRichTea · 23/10/2021 09:20

@IveGotASongThatllGetOnYNerves

Yes, I xposted with your link. Thank you for posting it, I'd missed that one.

Just had a quick read. Crikey, people don't like answering that 🤣.
I don't know why people got so angry. It's not an unreasonable question to ask people - what would the situation need to be for you to agree that bringing back some restrictions for a period would be a good idea!

I suspect it may be to do with the fact that the OP wasn’t prepared to answer, but probably best kept to the thread itself and you can make your own judgement there
AutumnAlmanack · 23/10/2021 09:21

I just want life back to nearly normal and I will do everything required of me to help achieve that. It is a fact that all pandemics DO come to an end sometime, the question is just when, oh when, will that be?

MarshaBradyo · 23/10/2021 09:24

@UsedUpUsername

yes, wearing a mask over your nose and mouth is reducing spread in a pandemic by 20-25%. Some people want to do that

Evidence please.

Reusable FFP2 masks also offer some protection to the wearer

No such thing as a reusable FFP2. There are many fakes on the market though.

Thing is, effective masks need to be air-tight and because of that, they are uncomfortable, it’s unlikely the general public can tolerate them and use them correctly. That’s just the way it is, and why they shouldn’t be mandated.

People THINK they are protected and really, really aren’t. It’s no small thing.

Are they reusable? I was wondering re Germany if people change them daily, it’s a lot of disposing. I know we have disposables here but most of the time I see washable ones
herecomesthsun · 23/10/2021 09:25

@UsedUpUsername

yes, wearing a mask over your nose and mouth is reducing spread in a pandemic by 20-25%. Some people want to do that

Evidence please.

Reusable FFP2 masks also offer some protection to the wearer

No such thing as a reusable FFP2. There are many fakes on the market though.

Thing is, effective masks need to be air-tight and because of that, they are uncomfortable, it’s unlikely the general public can tolerate them and use them correctly. That’s just the way it is, and why they shouldn’t be mandated.

People THINK they are protected and really, really aren’t. It’s no small thing.

No that's not true.

Some reusable masks do offer very high filtration,

But I would prefer for people to be making a responsible and socially minded decision to wear masks rather than be legally mandated to use them.

breathesafeair.com/cambridge-mask-review/

TheVampiresWife · 23/10/2021 09:25

@Brindle88

We’re are now living with an infectious disease that has the capacity to overrun health services.

Do those who propose we get on with life not want access to a functioning health service? Do they think that’s an acceptable price to pay just so they don’t have to wear a mask in winter, or work from home occasionally when COVID rates are especially high.

If it's here to stay - and it is - this and future governments will have no choice but to invest in the NHS so it can cope with the added strain of covid every winter. Because masks and restrictions every winter are simply unsustainable. The hospitality industry cannot survive with masks and SD in place, particularly at its busiest time of the year. Social distancing would mean no household mixing at Christmas, every Christmas.

And not everyone can wfh.

IveGotASongThatllGetOnYNerves · 23/10/2021 09:26

Yes I will. Thanks again, appreciate it.

Scottishskifun · 23/10/2021 09:27

@herecomesthsun most of the studies into masks and delta show another factor be it ventilation, social distancing and also state worn correctly.... Vast majority of people do not do this.

There is no such thing as a reusable FFP2 mask. You can get positive pressure systems which obviously is reusable but it's a helmet with a airflow pipe and filtration panel.
I suggest scrolling through 3M website for the types of masks which are available who are a global leader in PPE and masks you won't find a reusable FFP2 mask!

OliveTree75 · 23/10/2021 09:28

I won't be wearing a mask again. I work in a primary school where we have never worn them (which I agree with). If I can breathe in the air of 30 8yr olds all day then I am not wearing a mask to nip in the shop for bread. Call me selfish but not doing it.

TheVampiresWife · 23/10/2021 09:32

@IceCreamAndCandyfloss

Masks, SD and household members back to isolating where there is a positive case in the household. Those things would make a difference without being in lockdown.
SD means no household mixing, huge swathes of hospitality and other sectors being unable to open, and tens of thousands of people out of work. You ok with that?