Who is planning to ditch masks as soon as we are legally allowed?

[polar81]

Is anyone else planning to ditch the masks asap? The only reason I wear one atm is because of the legal mandate and it will go as soon as that's dropped.

If you are staunchly pro-mask then this is probably not the thread for you! I know all the arguments on both side and they have been fully rehearsed on this board for the last 2 years. I am simply interested to gauge how many people also want to ditch masks asap, when the law allows.

It would be fab if we could have a thread on this topic that didn't include the words- selfish, it's no hardship, why wouldn't you?, we're in a pandemic ffs, I wear my mask to protect others etc.... that's lovely, and we already know!

@toomuchlaundry

Do 90,000 people a day contract flu? At any one point time do 1 in 20 have flu in flu season?

The scale might be different but the principle remains exactly the same.

As someone before me quite rightly eluded to it's really not smart to try and prevent every single virus through endlessly sanitising everything, mask wearing and psychotic levels of hand washing. Our natural immunity will suffer as a consequence.

@IcedPurple I wrote that to try and avoid people making stupid comments such as "did you wear a mask prior to 2020". No I didn't. I didn't give it a second thought. I'd seen Japanese tourist in big European cities with masks on, I'd never thought of wearing one. So they weren't wearing them either. Fine. But the whole "you never wore one before" rebuttal is stupid.

So why do we have vaccines?

Colds and other minor viruses challenge our immune systems and keep them strong. I'd rather fight off numerous colds and have a strong enough immune system to take on the flu (or covid, or whatever) than avoid minor bugs and end up really poorly with something. All this hand sanitising and constantly wiping surfaces is crap for the gut microbiome too and there is lots of evidence emerging that this is a hugely important part of our health.

I agree completely.

Our bodies are designed to be exposed and to fight of pathogens!

And hand sanitisers unfortunately kill all your good helpful bacteria too!

I will carry on wearing one. I won't let it stop my life going on, we have lots of theatre trips booked, have eaten out lots and have been abroad several times through the pandemic, but if I can help prevent it's spread in any small way by doing something very basic then I am happy to do it.

But cutting down on my usual winter woes? Well, it'd be stupid not to

I think you'd be wise to talk this through with someone who has expertise in how immune systems work. This is storing up lots of problems for you in the future.

@SoOvethis

Hell yes! Happy to burn my masks! Look at places like France who have much more strict mask rules and a health pass turned vaccine pass - their numbers keep exploding.

France you say? Where there have been a total of fewer cases than the UK and fewer deaths. That France? It's not a competition, but seriously, that's an embarrassing reference point to pick.

Most people don't care deeply about the health of others, not really. I've said this before, but it's like cancer, or any other horrible illness, really dreadful when it's happening to you or someone you love, but a bit more abstract when it's happening to others.

Me. I'll probably stop now to be honest.

@toomuchlaundry

There were 438 deaths yesterday.

I would feel happier if I knew this decision was made based on science rather than by a bumbling fool who is trying to save his job

No there weren't

On the whole I'll keep wearing them in supermarkets and on public transport, but it will nice to feel I don't have to.

@tigger1001

I can't wait to ditch the mask. But I'm in Scotland so no doubt that will be a long way off.

I'm also in Scotland and haven't worn a mask since February last year. Just take it off

@Blubells

Colds and other minor viruses challenge our immune systems and keep them strong. I'd rather fight off numerous colds and have a strong enough immune system to take on the flu (or covid, or whatever) than avoid minor bugs and end up really poorly with something. All this hand sanitising and constantly wiping surfaces is crap for the gut microbiome too and there is lots of evidence emerging that this is a hugely important part of our health.

I agree completely.

Our bodies are designed to be exposed and to fight of pathogens!

And hand sanitisers unfortunately kill all your good helpful bacteria too!

Would you be happy being exposed to Ebola? Rabies?

Covid is a novel virus and does not just present as a respiratory disease. People think it’s like the flu because many people get flu like symptoms. But actually it attacks the nervous system and circulatory system too.

The issue really is that we live in environments which are inherently unhealthy and that’s why we end up needing to clean surfaces and ventilate. Crammed into schools and offices just isn’t good for our health.

So unless that changes, then yes, we need public health measures.

I will wear my mask on public transport because people asap whole are disgusting creatures.

And how will wearing a mask stop people 'on the whole', whatever that means, from being 'disgusting creatures'?

Maybe you should drive your own car or take a taxi if you find your fellow humans so repulsive.

I work in a hospital, so no I won't be ditching mine any time soon!

Would you be happy being exposed to Ebola? Rabies?

What a silly question. These are both extremely dangerous viruses, vastly more so than Sars Cov 2.

Personally, having been fully vaccinated and boostered, I'm quite happy to be exposed to Omnicron. Given how infectious it is, I, you and everyone else is going to be exposed to it no matter what we do. You're obviously free to take the precautions you deem necessary, but the rest of us may choose to make different risk assessments.

We do need public health measures, yes, and that is how I see vacines and antivirals.

I would not be happy to be exposed to ebola or rabies because I haven't been vaccinated against them and both are almost invariably fatal.

I’ll stop wearing one if I feel the situation warrants it. I’d be more inclined ti wear one if I was in a very busy place or close to elderly or vulnerable people.

I wouldn’t be surprised if masks stick around in places like medical settings so those that are wanting to burn all of their masks might want to rethink. I was at the GP this week and they’re still very hot on enforcing the one way system and how many people are allowed in at one time.

I honestly dont care either way about masks. But now I honestly am in the head space of covid not crossing my mind in my daily life. Yes I wear the mask but I never think about catching it for example.

I've quite liked being able to clean the handles on trolleys at supermarkets after reading many threads on here about people who don't wash their hands after going to the toilet. Some people replay are disgusting creatures.

I know a few germs are good for us but not washing your hands after going to the loo is rank

Best news today so far!!!

Everyone in our store is ditching them.

If you are staunchly pro-mask then this is probably not the thread for you! "

“ I wouldn’t be surprised if masks stick around in places like medical settings so those that are wanting to burn all of their masks might want to rethink.”

Most of the medical settings I attend for work give people surgical masks to wear - they don’t accept cotton masks etc

Cannot wait to chuck it in the bin. If it's anything like last time, the mask wearing gradually comes down after the law change although this time I'm thinking it will be more instantaneous.

@littlebilliie

If you are staunchly pro-mask then this is probably not the thread for you! "

Thank you! Hope it's tasty 😆