Why are we still wearing masks?

[Couldntrememberthewordbasket]

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

I’m in England and we should still be wearing them everywhere people are just too lazy and don’t. I wear mine everywhere and I even wear gloves at petrol stations. I’ve had covid once I’m not getting it again.

Most countries require mask wearing. In my country we have to wear them outdoors too.

The benefits of wearing a mask are obvious and scientific That's why colds etc have reduced during covid.

The wearing of masks outdoors urks me however I think it's more to serve as a reminder of the virus so it makes people more aware so they take precautions

That date is very significant, because I've read a whole article on how the officially accepted science on masks was wrong at the start of the pandemic. I don't remember the exact date the WHO reversed it's advice, but it it was definitely later than that date, a few months later.

The WHO changed its advice about 6 weeks later (on 6th June 2020), but only to a rather weak recommendation that masks should be worn where social distancing is not possible.

In reality most people don't want to be different and just wear the mask as everyone else is doing so.

There are people with no masks or with them under their nose all over the place where I am. I guarantee not all of them are exempt.

@Florianus

Here is the link to the article I was referring to earlier, where Scientists realised that WHO was wrong about masks. You might need to sign up to the site, for free, to read it.

www.wired.com/story/the-teeny-tiny-scientific-screwup-that-helped-covid-kill/

God knows OP. They are filthy, polluting, dehumanising items and the evidence they do much to stop covid is weak.

Some people seem to love them though and appear happy about the prospect of a dystopian future where everyone walks around with half their face covered. The worst are people who actually think it’s appropriate and acceptable to force children to cover their faces with these dirty, smelly rags.

And for some it’s a political statement, less about the virus and more about showing what good, upstanding citizens they are.

I hope that it becomes an issue of individual choice over the coming months. If you want to walk around with a bandage over your mouth then have at it. Let the rest us walk around and breathe the fresh air like normal human beings.

The day we decided that the simple act of breathing normally was a dirty, diseased thing to do was a dark one. It’s frightening how quickly many people have come to accept this as truth.

For anyone else who hasn't followed my posts, I mean WHO was wrong at the start of the pandemic, their current position is correct, as far as anyone knows.

@RememberThePenguins

Masks work if they are good quality surgical masks or N95 etc.

Your favourite loose fitting single sheet cloth mask is just security theatre against an airborne virus. Though they do probably serve as a reminder to social distance, so there may be some benefit there.

Most aren't single layer though. I haven't seen a single pattern or bought mask that had one layer of fabric. Many had 3 or 2 with a pocket for another layer. They aren't 100% effective, but do cut transmission. They also tend to fit better than the disposable ones.

I do wear the disposable ones now. I have to grit my teeth a bit when I do because I try to avoid waste in other areas, but they are much more comfortable to wear than the many fabric ones I have.

I'm with LakieLady!

"I wear a mask because I don't want to be responsible for making anyone ill."

It's no bother to me so I wear a mask all the time when I go out. Wore one at the cinema last night. I work in a shop and wear it customer-facing but take it off when I'm working on my own in the back room.

Because masks, N95 well fitted masks, not the crap most people are wearing, are another layer of protection to filter the the droplets you give when you cough or exhale.

It's not a substitue for vaccines. It's not a subsitute for maintaining distance indoors with strangers, it's not a substitute for good ventilation indoors but it helps when you are in a supermarket and a positive Covid stranger coughs when you are less than a metre apart.

I'm really surprised this question is still being asked two years into the pandemic.

@newnamenewyear

England may have started wearing masks again, officially. But there isn't the same culture for it here as in many other counties.

Lots of people are ignoring the advice to wear a mask. It's not unusual to find I'm the only customer in a shop actually wearing one.

There seems to be very high compliance where we live in the Bath/Bristol area. We went to a big supermarket last week and there was one person in the entire store not wearing one. I rarely see anyone without a mask indoors.

Thank you RandomLondoner that was an interesting read.

This is what WHO says, last updated in December 2020:

www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public/when-and-how-to-use-masks

I will stop the moment plan B changes. I work in a school and we only wear them when moving around school near pupils, in the office no one wears one.

Plan b to disappear at the end of this month hopefully and DH can go back to work.

We now have to again, although I never stopped wearing them.

Interesting article. We lived in a small hamlet, village hall being the focal point xmas 2001 we had the usual xmas party, church thing. We had planned the NYE party. The whole event was cancelled the village was wiped out by flu only those who had not attended the pre xmas events were spared. So yes airborne is logical.

A study which took fifteen months using track trace data issued its findings the top spreader location wise is indeed supermarket. Followed by schools.

I stick to the rules, but I haven't been ill for two years now, not even a sniffle. I am worried my immunity in general is diminishing.

Fuck knows. It's not like they've made a difference to the rates between England and Scotland/Wales. Covid theatre mainly.

@Casamadrigal

God knows OP. They are filthy, polluting, dehumanising items and the evidence they do much to stop covid is weak.

Some people seem to love them though and appear happy about the prospect of a dystopian future where everyone walks around with half their face covered. The worst are people who actually think it’s appropriate and acceptable to force children to cover their faces with these dirty, smelly rags.

And for some it’s a political statement, less about the virus and more about showing what good, upstanding citizens they are.

I hope that it becomes an issue of individual choice over the coming months. If you want to walk around with a bandage over your mouth then have at it. Let the rest us walk around and breathe the fresh air like normal human beings.

The day we decided that the simple act of breathing normally was a dirty, diseased thing to do was a dark one. It’s frightening how quickly many people have come to accept this as truth.

Are you OK?

[quote RandomLondoner]@Florianus

Here is the link to the article I was referring to earlier, where Scientists realised that WHO was wrong about masks. You might need to sign up to the site, for free, to read it.

www.wired.com/story/the-teeny-tiny-scientific-screwup-that-helped-covid-kill/[/quote]
An interesting article.

There has been a major shift toward fresh air and ventilation since early 2020 which reflects this.

The problem with masks is that it depends on the type of mask and user. Mask mandates have shown only a 10% reduction in population transmission. If better quality masks and proper training were given then this would likely increase.

Disposable masks and air conditioning everywhere does fly in the face of the actions needed to stop climate change.

@Casamadrigal

God knows OP. They are filthy, polluting, dehumanising items and the evidence they do much to stop covid is weak.

Some people seem to love them though and appear happy about the prospect of a dystopian future where everyone walks around with half their face covered. The worst are people who actually think it’s appropriate and acceptable to force children to cover their faces with these dirty, smelly rags.

And for some it’s a political statement, less about the virus and more about showing what good, upstanding citizens they are.

I hope that it becomes an issue of individual choice over the coming months. If you want to walk around with a bandage over your mouth then have at it. Let the rest us walk around and breathe the fresh air like normal human beings.

The day we decided that the simple act of breathing normally was a dirty, diseased thing to do was a dark one. It’s frightening how quickly many people have come to accept this as truth.

force children to cover their faces with these dirty, smelly rags. you could wash them now and again.

I hope that it becomes an issue of individual choice over the coming months. I hope it doesnt unless the science suggests it.

Dirty, smelly rags? Good lord, there's a person with Issues.

I hope that it becomes an issue of individual choice over the coming months. I hope it doesnt unless the science suggests it.

It’s linked to plan B ending isn’t it? Making it likely it will stop being mandated quite soon, end of Jan or Feb

someone is on their high horse.

@Anniegetyourgun

Dirty, smelly rags? Good lord, there's a person with Issues.

Just don't mention the moon landings or how the earth isn't flat...

I only wore a mask when I went to the dentist as they insisted and then only wore a full FFP3 mask as anything else is as pointless as trying to carry loose sand in a shopping trolley.

Not had hassle anywhere for not wearing a mask and us non masksists always give each other a smile or a nod when passing.

You would think in this cold weather people might realise how utterly ineffective cloth masks are given you can still see the water vapour cloud from their breath when they breath out...