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Original poster

Why are we still wearing masks?

273 replies

Couldntrememberthewordbasket · 13/01/2022 23:16

I’m not in the U.K.

Where I am, we still have to wear masks in the supermarket/petrol stations etc..we’ve never not had to,
The U.K. don’t, right?
Why are we still having to do this? I can’t see it ending, will be so very odd going shopping without masks

OP posts:
TheOriginalEmu · 13/01/2022 23:17

We do in Wales. Never stopped.

purpleme12 · 13/01/2022 23:17

Still masks in shops and indoors in UK

AllThingsServeTheBeam · 13/01/2022 23:17

You need to wear masks in England again now.

Itsalmostanaccessory · 13/01/2022 23:19

Scotland never stopped.

The UK is not just England, you know.

nocoolnamesleft · 13/01/2022 23:19

We're back to wearing masks. I never stopped. Mask wearing reduces spread. Reducing spread makes us less likely to have the whole system collapse with too many people sick at the same time.

Luredbyapomegranate · 13/01/2022 23:19

Yes we do.

It helps stop infection spread. That’s why they are worn by people in eg Japan to stop the spread of colds. It’s not a big deal is it?

Original poster
Couldntrememberthewordbasket · 13/01/2022 23:21

Jesus, some biting comments.

I thought England had stopped mask wearing in supermarkets some time ago and we’ve never stopped. I didn’t realise there’s still mask wearing. My mistake

OP posts:
Tealightsandd · 13/01/2022 23:22

Masks (particularly N95/FFP2 and FFP3) work well at reducing transmission.

Original poster
Couldntrememberthewordbasket · 13/01/2022 23:22

@Itsalmostanaccessory Right, thanks, I know.

OP posts:
Original poster
Couldntrememberthewordbasket · 13/01/2022 23:23

@Tealightsandd It’s ok, I didn’t say they didn’t, I was curious why England had stopped and where I am never stopped.

OP posts:
Itsalmostanaccessory · 13/01/2022 23:24

England did stop. They have started again.

Wales and Scotland never stopped. I'm not sure about Northern Ireland.

The UK does not just mean England, which is how you framed your OP.

RedCandyApple · 13/01/2022 23:26

They stopped for a short time but now have to again

Tealightsandd · 13/01/2022 23:28

Don't worry OP. It's understandable you were confused. The government has hardly been very clear about things and they did, against scientific advice and common sense, get rid of masks for a few months (in England. The devolved nations were more sensible).

WindyState · 13/01/2022 23:29

[quote Couldntrememberthewordbasket]@Tealightsandd It’s ok, I didn’t say they didn’t, I was curious why England had stopped and where I am never stopped.[/quote]
Because tories.

Tippytaps · 13/01/2022 23:30

YABU.

Parts of England stopped for a short time, hospitals in England did not stop. Transport for London also did not stop. Wales and Scotland never stopped. We didn’t stop because they reduce transmission.

Tealightsandd · 13/01/2022 23:31

[quote Couldntrememberthewordbasket]@Tealightsandd It’s ok, I didn’t say they didn’t, I was curious why England had stopped and where I am never stopped.[/quote]
Sorry posted before I saw this.

The answer is because England has a government that failed to follow the science (and lacks common sense and morals).

Lillyhatesjaz · 14/01/2022 00:07

I think we temporarily stopped because Boris couldn't get enough tory votes to continue restrictions and it is embarrassing for him to have to rely on the Labour Party to get legislation through.

BasketBlocks · 14/01/2022 00:20

We still do in England because they look good and make going shopping much more mysterious and dangerous.

Tealightsandd · 14/01/2022 00:24

This.

Tealightsandd · 14/01/2022 00:25

@Tealightsandd

This.
I meant to quote Lillyhatesjaz
PickAChew · 14/01/2022 00:27

It stopped being compulsory in England while cases were low. It became compulsory again when (some time after) they became high again.

And, tbh, a lot of people never stopped.

phoenixrosehere · 14/01/2022 00:29

They didn’t necessarily stop in England but people were “expected” to use their common sense and given a choice. I chose to continue wearing one because I don’t trust people considering most I encountered throughout the pandemic didn’t know what a meter was on a good day and I was proven right because the moment people were given a choice, I found in my area people seemed to want to be close as possible and were giving me looks for distancing and continuing to wear a mask.

DdraigGoch · 14/01/2022 00:31

It'll take me a while to stop wearing a mask at work. I'll have to train myself not to mouth insults at certain "customers".

Tealightsandd · 14/01/2022 00:32

Cases never went low in the UK. Well, England at least.

Our stable 'low' was between 100-200 a day being killed by Covid. With many more newly disabled with Long Covid.

sparepantsandtoothbrush · 14/01/2022 00:41

@Tealightsandd

Cases never went low in the UK. Well, England at least.

Our stable 'low' was between 100-200 a day being killed by Covid. With many more newly disabled with Long Covid.

WITH covid not BY covid

OP masks weren't compulsory in England for a while. I still wore one in shops and cafes but was in the minority. Even know when we're supposed to wear them nobody enforces it