Mask wearing where you live?

[julieca]

Went to the supermarket today which was busy and only a few people were wearing masks. Nearly everyone was not. I have noticed over the last few months the amount of mask-wearing going down, and now very few people wear masks outside of the GPs surgery 9where they are still compulsory).
So are people wearing masks where you live, or have they mainly given up?

From the data I’ve read Germany is at 67.4 with 2 vaxx and uk at 80% fully vaxx.

You aren't comparing the same numbers. It is 80% of over 12s in the UK vs 67.4 of the entire population of Germany. When you use the same method EileenGCs figures are correct.

I'm in Ireland where masks are mandatory and where I live in ireland there is pretty much 100% compliance. I'm yet to notice anyone in a shop etc without a mask. And yes you see people wearing them in the street all of the time because it easier than taking them off between shops.

It's still mandatory here in Scotland. I don't see that having them mandated is making a big difference to infection rate.

A few weeks ago Germany had low case numbers I’m not sure masks etc will stop wave in Europe

It seems to be travelling from east to west I suppose Italy, France then Spain and Portugal will be interesting to see what happens against higher vaccination rates (for last two)

Still mandatory here in Wales, you get the odd person without, but not many.

I went to another city yesterday by train - I'd say 3/4 of the people on the train were maskless and that figure was higher in the shops/bars and restaurants

The irony of some posters talking about how unpleasant some of the masked people are through the use of derogatory language.

Is there any need for such unpleasantness? How does someone choosing to wear a mask impact others in any way? Can people not just get on with their own lives without having to attempt to bring others down?

I am probably banging my head against a brick wall but can we not all try to be kinder to one another?

@MarshaBradyo the cases are on the up here in my region of Italy Lombardia (which is about the size of Wales). We have just narrowly missed being downgraded from a White to Yellow level lockdown due to just over 4000 new cases for the region. Yellow would mean masks are mandatory outdoors too, no more than 4 at a table in a restaurant and travel restrictions. I'm not sure if the 10pm-5am curfew would still included in this, that we had in the previous Red, Orange and Yellow lockdown levels. For my city Milan, yesterday e had 152 new cases. I read this morning that 84% of people over 12 are now fully vaccinated (with 2 doses and from 1st December anyone over 40 can book the third vaccine, so hopefully it will be kept under control.

What I can't understand is the people wearing masks incorrectly when you need not bother at all, and the PP who wore a mask in the theatre only to remove it to eat/drink - just what is the point of that? By removing mask at any point the risk to spread is still there so why continue with it?

From the data I’ve read Germany is at 67.4 with 2 vaxx and uk at 80% fully vaxx.

It’s 67.4 and 68.4% of the overall population. You can’t compare apples with oranges, you need to use the same starting point.

Let’s remember ‘cases rising’ in Europe means an incidence of 300/400. The UK had many areas at 900+ just a few weeks ago (and still does, although in less regions than before) but according to people who live there, ‘hospitalisations aren’t rising so we shouldn’t be concerned’. ‘We need to get on with life’.

Europe has much, much fewer cases than the UK (per population), the only reason why it’s being reported in the UK is because measures are being taken now. Just as cases start rising, not after we’re in the middle of a wave. That’s the difference.

The other difference is rate of rise.

The case increase is steeper than the U.K.

We have been holding at roughly same rate for a while

It makes me laugh when people are saying some unkind comments towards people wearing masks, they are nothing compared to other threads where people are being called selfish fucking cunts for not wearing one.

@Wizzbangfizz

What I can't understand is the people wearing masks incorrectly when you need not bother at all, and the PP who wore a mask in the theatre only to remove it to eat/drink - just what is the point of that? By removing mask at any point the risk to spread is still there so why continue with it?

Well exactly. Try telling that to Nicola though who insists that we still wear them walking into a restaurant but can take it off sitting down and eating. Or wearing it into the cinema but can take it off to have popcorn. You don't have to wear one whilst dancing in nightclubs but have to wear it whilst socially distanced in church. My council has told us we have to wear them in the playground to pick the kids up despite there being no more than 14 parents in the playground at that time (i promise we're not licking each other either).

London. Nobody is but me. So glad I got my booster this week.

I'm amazed reading this that in so many parts of England people are still wearing masks when in most settings it's not compulsory. I live in the London suburbs and it's as if the pandemic never existed. Life appears (perhaps with the exception of public transport and medical settings) back to normal in shops, restaurants, gyms etc. And covid rates are now low.

@DoraMaude

I'm amazed reading this that in so many parts of England people are still wearing masks when in most settings it's not compulsory. I live in the London suburbs and it's as if the pandemic never existed. Life appears (perhaps with the exception of public transport and medical settings) back to normal in shops, restaurants, gyms etc. And covid rates are now low.

I would agree with this. I live in a large city (Birmingham) and as stated upthread, it's unusual, has been for months.

However, at my one child's secondary, mask wearing has been reinstated.

I'm in South Africa. It's still compulsory here. You're not going to be able to gain entry anywhere if you're not wearing a mask or a shield. There are no medical exemptions. No mask, no entry.

All the kids have to wear them all day at school.

We have no cases in my area and less than 400 per day country wide.

I'm in Scotland and at a theatre on Friday night it was about 50/50 (we're supposed to wear them). I was pleased to see so many NOT wearing them.

Guess the mask wearers were all at home looking for neighbours to report for putting their bins out too early as parking an inch on a yellow line.

Fgs....

I'm in Spain. Everyone wears them in public indoors settings as that's still mandatory and children over 6 wear them at school at all times.
In public outdoors it's about 50/50. We have very very high vaccination rates here, + 90 % I think now and that includes 12 years old and up.

I’ve noticed it seems to vary shop to shop. Maybe half in supermarkets but oddly in B&Q, which is cavernous with at least 6 metre high ceilings and open doors everywhere, much higher. They still have someone at the door pointing to the sanitiser, too.

The only thing I can think of is that as a lot of the customers are self-employed tradespeople, maybe they’re more cautious because they can’t afford time off work 🤷‍♀️

Just had my booster but will carry on with the mask through winter.

No one here really wears masks anymore except for medical settings. Me included. I don't actually know where I put our stock of masks.

@isthismylifenow out of interest, how many tests are being done in South Africa? Is there any asymptomatic testing happening?

@MrsJackWhicher

I agree that the mask wearers seem to be the grim -faced less friendly ones. I was in Twickenham last night for the rugby snd the pubs were crammed packed with people dancing/singing and having a really good time, thank god. Guess the mask wearers were all at home looking for neighbours to report for putting their bins out too early as parking an inch on a yellow line.

Or maybe, just maybe they're like me and have a blood disorder. Or leukaemia. Or are mid chemotherapy Use your brain a bit

I'm not grim faced, I just don't wander round sainsburys grinning like a lunatic, and if I did then you wouldn't see it behind a mask anyway

@Againstmachine

It makes me laugh when people are saying some unkind comments towards people wearing masks, they are nothing compared to other threads where people are being called selfish fucking cunts for not wearing one.

Exactly. I'm autistic and faces in masks make me feel anxious. I have to avoid looking at anyone when the mask wearing rates go up. I understand that there are reasons why people may feel the need to wear them, I just wish others could show people without masks the same understanding.

Midlands, most don't seem to wear them anymore, me included.