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Original poster

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

999 replies

polar81 · 17/01/2022 09:25

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!

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
Emergency73 · 21/01/2022 07:40

@Waxonwaxoff0

I guess it’s each to their own, but I can’t read an article like that and for it not to bother me. And I don’t think masks are ‘going’. I think they are recommended.

Perhaps selfish isn’t the right word - but I think it’s sad that people would dismiss their needs.

BackToThe0IdHouse · 21/01/2022 07:52

Why, we're heading out of it?!

Did you read the link above? Lots of people are still very vulnerable and they can't avoid being in public places. While cases are still very high it's the decent thing to do because vulnerable people are not heading out of it at all, especially those who aren't protected by vaccines because they're immunocompromised.

You've definitely said masks help protect vulnerable people and that's why everyone should wear one, do you think vulnerable people have suddenly disappeared?

userxx · 21/01/2022 07:56

Does anyone know if masks will be ditched whilst having an eye test ?

HarrietteNightingale · 21/01/2022 07:56

I think they are recommended.

Realistically, that's lip service and the government know that. People will stop wearing masks, though it might take a couple of weeks for it to reduce and I think many people will be cautious at first, then gradually stop wearing them in most settings as they did last year.

Wizzbangfizz · 21/01/2022 07:58

Vulnerable people were present before the pandemic - this virus is similar to many other respiratory diseases which could be fatal to tje CEV - did you wear a mask religiously before? The answer to that is no.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 21/01/2022 08:00

[quote Emergency73]@Waxonwaxoff0

I guess it’s each to their own, but I can’t read an article like that and for it not to bother me. And I don’t think masks are ‘going’. I think they are recommended.

Perhaps selfish isn’t the right word - but I think it’s sad that people would dismiss their needs.[/quote]
Recommended, but realistically I think it will be a minority who still wear them.

SueSaid · 21/01/2022 08:02

'Lots of people are still very vulnerable and they can't avoid being in public places.'

The guidance is still to use them in crowded indoor areas I believe.

VikingOnTheFridge · 21/01/2022 08:07

@Kokeshi123

And again. Mitigations like masks, vaccine passes, and good ventilation (eg. HEPA filters) are what enable people to get on with work and life - without unnecessary risk of being killed or disabled. Whilst also protecting others.

Tea, they're doing all this in countries like France, and it appears to be making sod-all difference to omicron.

It's certainly rampaging through alright.

That reminds me, do we have any research dealing specifically with the impact of masks on Omicron yet? I'm aware of course of evidence showing around a 10% reduction in transmission pre-Omicron with proper mask use. Does this hold with a more transmissible variant?

BackToThe0IdHouse · 21/01/2022 08:08

@Wizzbangfizz

Vulnerable people were present before the pandemic - this virus is similar to many other respiratory diseases which could be fatal to tje CEV - did you wear a mask religiously before? The answer to that is no.
Where I am the case rate is almost 2000/100,000 and it's far more contagious than flu. And Covid is more dangerous to some CEV people than flu or other viruses. I won't wear a mask forever but until Omicron cases come down, I will. So for a few weeks at least.

Also I understand that not everyone wants to or can wear a mask and that's absolutely none of my business, I'm done with people being called selfish as accusations like that have helped nobody over the past couple of years and have just made things even more unpleasant than they already were.

To be fair the whole did you wear a mask before covid argument isn't really much of a gotcha - I think covid had educated a lot of people who hadn't much thought of how viruses etc affect vulnerable people before. Many of them may now choose to wear a mask in the future if they have a cold or whatever, which is good news for vulnerable people. I'm not suggesting for a second that people should do that but it's good to see that attitudes have changed a bit.

BackToThe0IdHouse · 21/01/2022 08:09

@JaniieJones

'Lots of people are still very vulnerable and they can't avoid being in public places.'

The guidance is still to use them in crowded indoor areas I believe.

But will you? After all you've said for a long time now that we all should be following guidance?
SueSaid · 21/01/2022 08:13

'But will you? After all you've said for a long time now that we all should be following guidance?'

Of course. If I'm in a crowded indoor area unable to SD without ventilation then yes. For now.

BackToThe0IdHouse · 21/01/2022 08:21

@JaniieJones

'But will you? After all you've said for a long time now that we all should be following guidance?'

Of course. If I'm in a crowded indoor area unable to SD without ventilation then yes. For now.

Good news, you've decided not to ditch them after all. I hope more people will consider doing the same when reminded about vulnerable people, as you have done.
GoldenOmber · 21/01/2022 08:22

Would vulnerable people not be better supported by making sure they have access to decent quality masks that actually protect the wearer at times of high case rates, rather than asking them to rely on every other human around them wearing a less effective mask?

herecomesthsun · 21/01/2022 08:24

Why not do both in the middle of a pandemic?

And quite a few CEV people have acquired their own high quality face masks by now.

Wizzbangfizz · 21/01/2022 08:25

It's not about trying to deliver a 'gotcha' but mask wearing isn't the answer to protecting anyone - maybe if done properly it has a beneficial effect but certainly not with the unwashed fashion cloth masks favoured in the UK.

I think we can all realise now that a lot of what was out in place was at the behest of behavioural scientists and when the people who set the rules didn't follow them I certainly won't be curtailing my life in any way in the future.

GoldenOmber · 21/01/2022 08:28

Well, it’s just that I’ve heard an awful awful lot of claims that the best way to protect vulnerable people is by everyone else wearing masks, but very little advocating for vulnerable people to actually get decent masks. And proper information - there are plenty of people who aren’t aware that cloth masks are a lot less effective than FFP2s, for example.

Resources to protect people surely a good approach?

newyear1 · 21/01/2022 08:43

I agree with this. When I had recent surgery, I wanted to reduce my risk of getting covid the month before. I bought a pack of FFP2 masks on Amazon and wore them on the tube.

I will be largely not wearing my mask come next week. If I was vulnerable, I'd be making sure I wore the best mask I could find. If I'm on the train, I'd wear a mask if I sat down next to someone wearing a mask as it's my choice to sit there. Although plenty of maskless people have sat down next to me on the train recently. I also doubt the T-shirt type masks are particularly effective.

southeastdweller · 21/01/2022 08:59

@herecomesthsun

Why not do both in the middle of a pandemic?

And quite a few CEV people have acquired their own high quality face masks by now.

Middle? We're on our way to it being endemic, we had the middle of it a year ago.
Chessie678 · 21/01/2022 09:07

@GoldenOmber
I think this makes a lot more sense - maybe having protective masks on prescription for vulnerable people or sending them out to the CEV list.

We know that cloth masks are not very effective and even if every adult was wearing one, over 10% of the population of children under 12 who aren't wearing them. So most settings are going to have a mix of people wearing masks and not wearing them even if they are mandated.

So some of the rest of the population wearing their choice of face covering some of the time isn't likely to make CEV people "safe" in the sense of significantly reducing their risk of catching covid. Whereas more protective masks don't eliminate the risk entirely but we know that they reduce it much more substantially. The person who wants the protection also more control over it than if they are relying on everyone else, most of whom have very little vested interest in or potentially knowledge of wearing a mask correctly.

Let's say you go into a setting where you have a 10% chance of catching covid. If everyone else is wearing a mask (unlikely), very crudely, your risk might reduce to 9%. It's hard to see that as the difference between safety and danger. And if you go into that setting every day for two weeks, you are very likely to catch covid anyway.

I think the theory was that everyone wearing masks would reduce covid rates in general so you get a sort of compounding effect. But it's not clear that that has really happened with omicron and they certainly haven't reduced rates to a level where CEV people would feel "safe".

MrsSkylerWhite · 21/01/2022 09:14

I’ll keep on with mine because it’s the sensible thing to do with my own family circumstances.
Don’t mind what anyone else does and glad that so many are pleased.
Do wish though that Johnson had based his decision on data rather than a desperate attempt to pacify his backbenchers and save his job by throwing them a bone.

VikingOnTheFridge · 21/01/2022 09:18

I'd be happy for the state to fund proper protective masks for those CEV who want them.

BackToThe0IdHouse · 21/01/2022 09:24

@GoldenOmber

Would vulnerable people not be better supported by making sure they have access to decent quality masks that actually protect the wearer at times of high case rates, rather than asking them to rely on every other human around them wearing a less effective mask?
This makes sense.

Although I won't hold my breath for a government who thinks ditching all mitigations when cases are so high to do something so sensible.

Of course if they'd waited a few short weeks for Omicron to truly be on the wane it might be too late to save BJ's premiership wouldn't it.

herecomesthsun · 21/01/2022 09:29

We have

  • over 100k daily positive on tests (incidence)
  • hundreds of daily deaths and the 7 day average is rising
  • 4.3 million positive (prevalence) on the last ONS survey, so likely to be 7 figures at least today.
  • CMO has said the pandemic may last 5 years

It certainly looks as though we are, at the very least, in the middle of a large wave to me. In the depths of winter.

not a great time to end restrictions, unless it is being done solely for political motives, which would I suppose explain it.

HariboMaroon · 21/01/2022 09:38

They’ll be ditched by the majority just like last time 🙌.

southeastdweller · 21/01/2022 09:38

@herecomesthsun

We have
  • over 100k daily positive on tests (incidence)
  • hundreds of daily deaths and the 7 day average is rising
  • 4.3 million positive (prevalence) on the last ONS survey, so likely to be 7 figures at least today.
  • CMO has said the pandemic may last 5 years

It certainly looks as though we are, at the very least, in the middle of a large wave to me. In the depths of winter.

not a great time to end restrictions, unless it is being done solely for political motives, which would I suppose explain it.

Did you know that recently case numbers have been decreasing, as have hospitalisations and deaths?