Attitude to masks needs to change...

[treeflowercat]

We adapted before back in the late Spring 2020, when it was decided that masks were beneficial after all, having initially been advised against it. The message at the time and since has been that masks protect others more than they protect you.

But now, the emphasis is on mask quality.... and it matters far less whether others around you have face covering but the quality of your own. For instance, it appears that you're far more protected if you have a FFP2 mask and others are maskless, than if you and everyone else has a cloth (or even surgical) face covering as per the link below:

www.goodhousekeeping.com/health/a38697308/best-face-masks-omicron-covid-variant/

(NB the absolute times need shortening for omicron but relatively the differences remain)

The notion that a room where everyone had face coverings on is "safe" doesn't really appear to hold, as evidenced by the rises in countries where mask mandates are strict (look at Spain!).

Equally, the idea that a room where only you have a mask on (if high quality) is "unsafe", at least compared to the fully masked alternative outlined above, doesn't hold either.

It seems that the advice now needs to change, as it did before, and that your protection is primarily based on the quality of your own mask.

A recognition of this would hopefully diffuse some of the conflicts and anxieties surrounding mask use...

I'm not writing this as someone who is anti-mask, and I started wearing one before the become mandatory, but unless we make this shift, they'll be a lot of vulnerable people who feel disproportionately unsafe, in the belief that their protection still lies more with the cloth face covering worn by people they interact with, than the quality of the mask they wear themselves.

Ffs some posters are so lazy or short-sighted beyond their own life.

Masks will be non-mandated from next week IN ENGLAND
There's a whole big world out their beyond your local tube station 🙄🙄

Anyway, @treeflowercat, you are right, we need to focus more on the masks we do wear. If I'm just popping into a shop quickly, I'll throw on a disposable blue mask or a cloth one. If I'm anywhere for longer, e.g. grocery shopping, medical appointment, meeting, I've now started using an FFP2 mask.
There's now more evidence of their efficiency and less people around are wearing any type of mask, so I'm happier with the decision that I'm keeping myself a little safer.

I think this is a really useful post OP and I completely agree that messaging should change to reflect your points People need to hear and believe that they can protect themselves (rather than wanting others to do it, and feeling angry and resentful when they don't) and be given clear guidance on how to go about it.

@IcedPurple

Don’t we take mitigations against things to make them more safe though? Can’t you think of any examples?

No, I have never taken 'mitigations' against statistically mild illness against which I have been fully vaccinated. Nor have I ever used the word 'safe' with reference to said illnesses.

Fair enough. I can’t think of an intelligent way to argue against what you’ve said or explain myself properly so will concede that I’m wrong about this.

@Postdatedpandemic

An FFP2 worn without a face fit test will offer protection similar to the levels from a surgical face mask.

Do you have evidence for this please? I would have thought even a slightly incorrect fitting ffp2 would offer more protection that a surgical or cloth mask.

As long as people move away from the disastrous for the environment surgical masks, I don’t care what people wear to make them feel safe.

Useful info thanks OP

@Lazypuppy

Masks will be gone by next week so kind of a moot point now.

They won't be gone. They will be optional.

@GirlInACountrySong

Masks are done with op! Gone

No they aren't. You can of course choose not to wear one. Others are free to do otherwise.

@Postdatedpandemic

An FFP2 worn without a face fit test will offer protection similar to the levels from a surgical face mask.

Do you mean FFP3 masks which offer a further level of protection beyond FFP2 masks?

I think the point the OP makes is a sound one.

@treeflowercat Public health policy cannot be decided on people's "fears"

Are FF2 masks disposable / single use?

Of particular note from this study is the evidence demonstrating that mask fit with an effective face seal is far more important to reducing total inward leakage and protecting the wearer than the filtration efficiency of the material used in the construction of the mask.
journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0258191#sec028

Yes, I agree with you. I have always worn a mask to protect myself as well as other people. I think that the message the government gave saying that it was to protect other people actually stopped selfish people wearing masks.

I have always worn more than one mask at a time to protect myself (a surgical mask and a cloth mask with filters) but I rarely go out as my husband is CEV so it does not cost much.

I also wear goggles if I am going to be in an enclosed place to protect myself.

@Toofleloo

Are FF2 masks disposable / single use?

Supposedly single use... But there's no reason they can't be reused. If concerned about hygiene you can hang up for a few days and then reuse.

What you say is why I’m not convinced lifting the mask mandate will actually make anything worse. I wear a mask because I’ve had to. So I wear a half-arsed probably not washed frequently enough cloth one because that’s the least uncomfortable option for me. Looking at people around me on public transport, they look to be doing the same. The idea this is having a big impact on stopping transmission just seems incredibly unlikely.

My parents are in their 60s so feel more vulnerable, so protect themselves by wearing FFP2 masks. Let’s normalise that instead. The CV/CEV could be provided with a stack of them for free.

www.pulsetoday.co.uk/news/coronavirus/gps-should-not-routinely-use-ffp2-as-surgical-mask-gives-very-good-protection/

Although not protection enough to colleagues working on Covid wards in surgical masks who all got Covid 🙄

The WHO has always said triple layer masks should be worn.

Why people thought single layer, or a bandana pulled over your face, was any use is beyond me.

Cannot WAIT!

I think you have nailed it there @RobinPenguins most people do not give a feck or understand the concept of controlling egress so are rather half arsed and unhygienic about masks.

The vulnerable need to find a good quality mask which fits their face.

@CurtailingChaos

The WHO has always said triple layer masks should be worn.

Why people thought single layer, or a bandana pulled over your face, was any use is beyond me.

I wear a snood which I can just pull up over my nose if I go into a shop.

I know it's pretty much useless - I only wear it because it's mandated. It's basically all for show.

I won't be wearing anything as of next week.

The decision to remove masks has the square root of fuck all to do with the science and everything to do with an incompetent venal buffoon desperately trying to cling on to power.

@ILoveAllRainbowsx

Yes, I agree with you. I have always worn a mask to protect myself as well as other people. I think that the message the government gave saying that it was to protect other people actually stopped selfish people wearing masks.

I have always worn more than one mask at a time to protect myself (a surgical mask and a cloth mask with filters) but I rarely go out as my husband is CEV so it does not cost much.

I also wear goggles if I am going to be in an enclosed place to protect myself.

You wear goggles?

@Toofleloo

Are FF2 masks disposable / single use?

In theory but you can reuse them if you hang them up for three days. I use one on trains but wear cloth ones in shops.

I for one cannot wait to see the back of the masks, quite honestly, no way would I wear one after Thursday. I am also CEV but refuse to live with this fear any longer, we need to get on with our lives.