I'm happy masks are back !

[genuinequestion21]

I mean, of course I would rather the pandemic was completely over. But whilst cases are high, I'm happy they're back. I never stopped wearing mine.

And now I'm more comfortable going into shops with my unmasked DD. Feels a bit safer for her. She's too young to wear a mask.

I'm not. I steam up really badly and I hate them!

Me too OP.

They never left in Wales, highest infection rate at one point in the UK. 🤣

People need to start washing their hands again and social distancing the masks are a mute point in my opinion.

@TicTacHoh

They'rerequired in supermarkets and trains etc but not pubs and restaurants, theatres or cinemas. It's a waste of time. Either they work, or they don't, they can't just magically work in some settings, and not others. I don't think compliance will be anything like before.

Which is why I'm not really on board with it this time. I doubt it will have much support

@Gwrach

They never left in Wales, highest infection rate at one point in the UK. 🤣

People need to start washing their hands again and social distancing the masks are a mute point in my opinion.

I really don't understand how so many people think that masks don't help at all.

If everyone wore one ( except mask exempt of course, that's fine ) it's just logical that it would help.

Just because there's a high infection rate somewhere, it doesn't mean they don't work.

If people wore them properly and not around their chin, that would be a start. Also, the cloth ones are rubbish. You need a proper FFP 3 one, tightly fitted to your face for it to work. If there's a gaping hole anywhere, it's not as effective at all.

But whilst cases are high,

Are they? Have I missed something? Cases have been pretty steady for months. Deaths are down.

What has happened that makes you think wearing a mask will make any difference?

Scotland have had masks throughout, it has literally changed nothing. Nothing.

I know people feel like they need to contribute and it is all done in good faith, but just look at the evidence for them. There is no evidence to say they make any difference. None.

What might make a difference is getting yourself healthy and not being obese, taking a vaccine, even taking Vit D - but masks, it's just pure diversion tactics from the government so they can't be accused of not doing anything from the panicked set.

I know people feel like they need to contribute and it is all done in good faith, but just look at the evidence for them. There is no evidence to say they make any difference. None.

This is untrue, not sure why posters feel the need to constantly repeat it.

There's good quality evidence they reduce transmission by ~10%.

When you're talking about the numbers of cases in the UK, this 10% can make a significant in reducing chains of tranmssion, and reducing the overall viral load people are exposed to in crowded unventiliated spaces.

There really isn't any evidence @saltedcaramel1

Certainly not 10% reduction.

@hamstersarse

But whilst cases are high,

Are they? Have I missed something? Cases have been pretty steady for months. Deaths are down.

What has happened that makes you think wearing a mask will make any difference?

Scotland have had masks throughout, it has literally changed nothing. Nothing.

I know people feel like they need to contribute and it is all done in good faith, but just look at the evidence for them. There is no evidence to say they make any difference. None.

What might make a difference is getting yourself healthy and not being obese, taking a vaccine, even taking Vit D - but masks, it's just pure diversion tactics from the government so they can't be accused of not doing anything from the panicked set.

Cases have been high for me since July.

I don't mean suddenly. Hence why I've barely taken my DD out to any shops since then.

Now that the masks are back, I feel a bit better and less selfish for exposing her.

I have really wanted to take her because I'm in need of some retail therapy. But I've felt selfish to do it. She also really likes going out, so I am looking forward to feeling just a tiny bit better for her.

@hamstersarse

There really isn't any evidence *@saltedcaramel1*

Certainly not 10% reduction.

Yes there is. I'm pretty sure I've seen posters link you to an overview of the evidence?

Will try and find it again

To me masks make logical sense. I can't explain it any other way. It's just physics for me I guess.

You have something in front of your mouth and nose that protects you. If both parties wear it, even better.

Here we are @hamstersarse - twitter thread by statistician

twitter.com/jburnmurdoch/status/1461325657653317640

To conclude
• Based on best evidence, masks cut incidence by ~10%
• So masks are a good, low-cost measure to use on top of vaccines
• If you care about finding the most effective interventions, don’t share obviously misleading numbers based on "very low quality" evidence

@saltedcaramel1 yeah there is evidence. A lot of it.

But even if there was not, it's just logic - to me- that having something covering your mouth and nose is going to protect people from your germs. And if everyone wears it, it's even more protection.

Best is if you can also cover your eyes somehow. I used to wear face shields.

@genuinequestion21

To me masks make logical sense. I can't explain it any other way. It's just physics for me I guess.

You have something in front of your mouth and nose that protects you. If both parties wear it, even better.

They may make logical sense if you are imagining the virus particles to be like they represent them in adverts etc. (i.e. quite large)

If you have a more realistic image of the actual size of the particles they would make no logical sense to you.

"The diameter of the virus has been found to range between 50 nm to 140 nm"

@genuinequestion21

I mean, of course I would rather the pandemic was completely over. But whilst cases are high, I'm happy they're back. I never stopped wearing mine.

And now I'm more comfortable going into shops with my unmasked DD. Feels a bit safer for her. She's too young to wear a mask.

Ahhh how nice for you stuff people like me who suffer ptsd but hey ho

‘MrsWooster

Exemptions aside, a mask seems a VERY small price to pay for potentially protecting each other.
I knows it’s not aibu, but yanbu!‘

Absolutely agree. Surely anything that stops the spread a bit.

@hamstersarse

your speculation and hypotheising is irrelevant when there is good quality evidence demonstrating a ~10% reduction in transmission

@screwcovid but you don't need to wear one then, do you ?

And before you say people abuse you for not wearing one, try your best to ignore it.

People are wankers and will use any excuse

@saltedcaramel1

Here we are *@hamstersarse* - twitter thread by statistician

twitter.com/jburnmurdoch/status/1461325657653317640

To conclude
• Based on best evidence, masks cut incidence by ~10%
• So masks are a good, low-cost measure to use on top of vaccines
• If you care about finding the most effective interventions, don’t share obviously misleading numbers based on "very low quality" evidence

The Bangaldesh mask study was not peer reviewed at the time of the headlines

It has been reviewed since www.argmin.net/2021/11/23/mask-rct-revisited/

Ahhh how nice for you stuff people like me who suffer ptsd but hey ho

But that is why you can exempt yourself @screwcovid?

I agree that a mask mandate that doesn't allow for people with PTSD or other conditions to exempt themselves will be harmful.

[quote genuinequestion21]@screwcovid but you don't need to wear one then, do you ?

And before you say people abuse you for not wearing one, try your best to ignore it.

People are wankers and will use any excuse [/quote]
This is true I just can't be arsed with all of the abuse I suffer mentally anyway so causes more anxiety

I don’t see the logic in ‘I’m sick of COVID so I refuse to do anything to help reduce it.’ It does not make sense.

Most people are sick of covid.

You understand that a blog post isn't peer review @hamstersarse?

But nethertheless, it seems you're determined to beleive you shouldn't need to wear a mask so seems pointless to continue!

@saltedcaramel1

You understand that a blog post isn't peer review *@hamstersarse*?

But nethertheless, it seems you're determined to beleive you shouldn't need to wear a mask so seems pointless to continue!

It is a review of a very 'questionable' methodology.

I am happy for you to wear one as you believe it matters, go for your life, but let's not pretend it will have an actual difference for you.

I know logically it will make sense to people, but please just look at the actual size of the particles you think you are blocking, it won't even touch the sides, literally.

I am happy to do things that will make a difference, it's just masks aren't one of them

size of particles