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Original poster

Quick poll: how many people are still wearing masks in your area?

223 replies

Monsterathai · 27/01/2022 16:01

I'll start! I'm in North Yorkshire and prior to today it has been almost 100% mask compliance. It was more 70%-ish here today following the mandate being lifted. Where do you live (city or county) and what's it like where you are?

P.S: if you think this is a boring topic, irrelevant or if you're sick of talking about masks then please feel free not to read any further.... and no, I don't have anything better to do Grin

OP posts:
SummerBluez · 27/01/2022 21:58

@supperlover
Even if Covid fizzles out to a certain extent there will always be viruses/flu/colds that could be fatal to the vulnerable.
Did you wear a mask before to stop yourself spreading flu to the elderly? No, you didn't.

middleager · 27/01/2022 22:18

About 20% wearing them, West Mids.
To be fair, it wasn't high before.

Whammyyammy · 27/01/2022 22:25

Just been out for the evening, a restaurant, 4 pubs, a shop(mini sainsburys) and a takeaway... didn't see one mask inside.... Great to see

VikingOnTheFridge · 27/01/2022 22:42

Coop today, probably 60/40 unmasked/masked. Interestingly didn't see any staff with them on. Was in about 5 mins.

supperlover · 27/01/2022 22:47

[quote SummerBluez]@supperlover
Even if Covid fizzles out to a certain extent there will always be viruses/flu/colds that could be fatal to the vulnerable.
Did you wear a mask before to stop yourself spreading flu to the elderly? No, you didn't.[/quote]
No, I didn't prior to Covid 19 but the evidence about masks protecting others wasn't something we knew about until the pandemic so am aware now. I was a nurse, now retired, so did wear a mask in many clinical settings to protect patients.

pollygartertidywife · 27/01/2022 22:48

[quote SummerBluez]@pollygartertidywife

Why are you assuming that people who choose not to wear masks are not well aware of the epidemiology?

Part of my job involves sitting on PHE Covid Webinars, I am more aware than your average person of all the trends and current and past data of the pandemic.

I still don't wear a mask.[/quote]
Then you don't understand what your peers are saying... and lack the capstone deal with real life without your own own wants getting g I. The way Do you HONESTLY think that the normal individual wa ta to wear a sodding mask ?

Caramelnipple · 27/01/2022 23:04

80% - central Scotland

TheRainbow · 27/01/2022 23:23

[quote SummerBluez]@SamphiretheStickerist
Why would I prioritise complete strangers over myself? Weird attitude.
No one's stopping you continuing to wear a mask, patting yourself on the back and telling yourself you're making a difference.[/quote]
@summer bluez. The poster wasn't 'patting herself on the back' but you seem to be, with your smug derision towards others who choose to continue to wear one. God knows why you're so pleased with yourself.

MichelleScarn · 27/01/2022 23:57

@TheRainbow where has @SummerBluez shown 'smug derision' for those who wear masks?

SummerBluez · 28/01/2022 06:30

@pollygartertidywife
If I didn't understand I wouldn't last very long in my job Grin
The evidence on masks being effective in controlling the spread is dubious at best and relies on people wearing their mask "correctly." The majority of people wear disposable masks numerous times, whip it on and off between shops shoving it in their pockets etc. Masks are a visual reminder and that's it.

madisonbridges · 28/01/2022 06:37

The evidence on masks being effective in controlling the spread is dubious at best...
the majority of people wear disposable masks numerous times, whip it on and off between shops shoving it in their pockets etc.
I always wear a mask and probably will carry on doing so most of the time but I definitely touch my face more. I'm constantly fiddling with my mask. If covid is spread by touch, I know I'm contributing to that despite trying not to. And I do take it off and put it in my pocket, too. 😔 I'm ashamed.

RachC2021 · 28/01/2022 10:36

[quote SummerBluez]@pollygartertidywife
If I didn't understand I wouldn't last very long in my job Grin
The evidence on masks being effective in controlling the spread is dubious at best and relies on people wearing their mask "correctly." The majority of people wear disposable masks numerous times, whip it on and off between shops shoving it in their pockets etc. Masks are a visual reminder and that's it.[/quote]
This is what people forget. So many don’t wear their mask anywhere near correctly.

Have I been 100%? No.

Once or twice my mask has slipped off the end of my nose when talking — so since then I really jam the wire nosepiece together, rather than gently moulding it. Every time I see someone on TV with their mask falling down I want to shout “jam the wire!”. I don’t re-use masks — fresh one every day I go into shops etc, and if the mask gets wet it gets binned & replaced. I don’t shove it into my bag or pocket between shops but as I wear glasses and haven’t found a way to stop them steaming up, my transgression is that I will unhook one ear loop from time to time when outside to clear up, or occasionally remove it completely (always by ear loops).

So there we have it — I’m not 100%. But I am better than many others.

Being a visual reminder isn’t a bad thing though. Keeping distance between people and lingering as little as possible in busy places like shops and supermarkets helps reduce the spread.

I’d say around 80% still wearing them here. I’ll continue to wear mine for the next month or so.

MaybeHeIsMyCat · 28/01/2022 12:11

About 70% in the doctors but a lot not wearing them over their nose Confused
Not sure about supermarkets as I've stopped going now as too risky without masks for me

AndAnotherNewOne · 28/01/2022 12:17

Not seeing much difference but it is a very caring community so to be expected, really.

jupitermars1345 · 28/01/2022 12:34

I actually don't know
I don't take any notice
I wear one though. South East England

Whammyyammy · 28/01/2022 12:43

@AndAnotherNewOne

Not seeing much difference but it is a very caring community so to be expected, really.
It is expected for your 'caring community' to still be wearing face masks when advised thst they are no longer required? Did you all wear them before covid? And does the community interest to wear masks forever?
AndAnotherNewOne · 28/01/2022 13:20

It is expected for your 'caring community' to still be wearing face masks when advised thst they are no longer required?

They are recommended in many places, didn't you know? A lot of places ask that you still wear them to keep others safe. Why wouldn't you?

And does the community interest to wear masks forever?

No idea what you mean by that.

CornishYarg · 28/01/2022 14:11

Just been to a few shops (SE town where mask wearing has been pretty high whenever mandated) and my best guess on % wearing masks is

Bus to get there and back - 100% from what I could see
M&S 80%
Sports Direct 60%
John Lewis 50% (which surprised me)
Primark 20%
Boots 50%

DH did the shopping at Sainsbury's quite late last night and reckoned it was about 50% of customers and 25% of staff. It's very quiet then and most of the staff are stocking shelves so it's pretty physical work that must be unpleasant in a mask

User764832 · 28/01/2022 14:19

Probably about 50%, before Thursday it was probably about 75%, East Midlands

Original poster
Monsterathai · 28/01/2022 15:31

It's dropping fast round here- hardly anyone wearing them in the post office today.

OP posts:
2X4B523P · 28/01/2022 15:40

@Monsterathai

It's dropping fast round here- hardly anyone wearing them in the post office today.
Mustn’t be a very caring community then apparently. I had to go to Sainsbury’s again today to return a coat that I brought yesterday but didn’t fit. Got a couple more bits whilst I was there and similar levels at about 80% of customers but a bit less than half of staff yesterday and today was hard to spot any with a mask.
Original poster
Monsterathai · 28/01/2022 15:55

Yeah... no one cares around here- we're all just so selfish!!

OP posts:
AndAnotherNewOne · 28/01/2022 17:28

Not sure why people are being so snarky. If we don't wear masks the clinically vulnerable may feel unable to go out. They've suffered enough, I think.

Covid hasn't gone away and infections are up among the young. Why wouldn't you want to protect the vulnerable? No one has answered that.

It really isn't a big ask to wear them in crowded indoor places.

ifonly4 · 28/01/2022 17:34

South West. Just spoken to my Mum and she said everyone was wearing a mask on bus and in M&S today! I've been to Tescos this afternoon and only two weren't wearing a mask - even the younger people were!

Whammyyammy · 28/01/2022 17:48

@AndAnotherNewOne

Not sure why people are being so snarky. If we don't wear masks the clinically vulnerable may feel unable to go out. They've suffered enough, I think.

Covid hasn't gone away and infections are up among the young. Why wouldn't you want to protect the vulnerable? No one has answered that.

It really isn't a big ask to wear them in crowded indoor places.

People aren't snarky, why should they where a bloody mask on their face just to satisfy the feelings of others? People generally obliged when told too, but stuff that now. When would you like us to keep wearing masks too? 5 years, 10? Forever?

Did clinically vulnerable people not go out before covid?

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