what % still wearing masks?

[WhereAreMyAirpods]

(obviously talking UK here, where masks haven't been compulsory in months).

I live in a part of Scotland where mask compliance was very high. Whatever people's personal thoughts on masks and whether they were effective, people wore them because it was illegal not to. It was exceptionally unusual to see someone unmasked in the supermarket this time last year, even after England ditched the masks and we continued, compliance was 95% or more.

Have just been to the local small supermarket, there was about 10 customers in, 5 in masks. And a masked member of staff.

And before everyone piles in with "oh they might be clinically vulnerable" well yes they might, but masks are supposed to protect me from them, and pre March 2020 I never saw one single mask, ever. Except in a hospital.3

I'm in Scotland and I hardly see anyone in a mask now. The odd person at the supermarket and that is about it. I have a friend who is CEV and she still wears a mask if she has to go somewhere.

Dorset- v rarely see anyone and if I do they tend to be older ( 50 plus) and working in a customer facing setting. I’m actually not v convinced they do much- until recently I lived in HK and in our jan to march wave about 5 million people got covid ( HKU estimate) in 3 months, out of a population of 7 million, despite universal mask wearing inside and outside and close to 100% compliance under threat of financially ruinous fines.

I still have to wear them at work still.

I’ve not seen anyone wearing one for ages. I’ve chucked all of mine out.

I’ve just had one on this morning for a docs appointment , doc wasn’t wearing one but it’s my choice to do so

Just been in Sainsbury's and there were a couple of older people in them. Not compulsory in.our doctors.
Mine have gone in the bin

I see maybe one or two people when I go on a day out, very very rarely otherwise!

I don't wear mine either, I think we still have a box of the disposable ones squirrelled away but never used.

I am surprised how many people round here still wear their masks, are they ever going to stop?

How do you know? Maybe they have covid and are choosing not to leave a trail of deadly virus hanging in the air.

In Kent there are always a few elderly people wearing them in any shop, and they’re compulsory in vets and doctors. I also choose to wear one in the street when I’m growing out my chin hair for electrolysis.

Maybe one or two people on the train/supermarket. I either think they're vulnerable (older or if there's a visible disability) or that they must have covid.

Wow. Could you be any more offensive?

My pharmacy and GP surgery are still asking me to wear a mask. So I do. And I also do so in supermarkets, in airports and on planes.

It's called choice and being responsible.

Probably, but that's the appropriate level of offence for people who are essentially being idiots but not harming anyone.

Because covid doesn't hang about in the air outdoors. It's almost impossible to catch covid outdoors, unless perhaps if you were sneezing right into someone's face.

This isn't new. We've known this for well over a year now.

Always see a couple of people in them in a large supermarket but that's it.
Masks were supposed to help reduce the wearers respiratory exhalations affect on others (by limiting the travel of a cough etc) but now it looks like the way they are being used (by those who still bother) is it is those who are concerned about catching something who wear them (judging by the fact that most people I see in them look more frail though I'm aware of hidden vulnerability etc etc) and my understanding is they are next to useless for that.
It is probably mentally reassuring for them though.

Masks were supposed to help reduce the wearers respiratory exhalations affect on others (by limiting the travel of a cough etc) but now it looks like the way they are being used (by those who still bother) is it is those who are concerned about catching something who wear them

Exactly - we were told all along that wearing masks was important because if we wear a mask, it protects everyone else from us. And unless you have one of the super dooper filter jobs, your cloth mask or paper disposable is not stopping you catching anything.

So if you're one of a 3% or 5% wearing a mask and 95% aren't, doesn't that make it entirely pointless?

I see lots of people wearing them in shops, both staff and customers. Our GP surgery tried to give them up, but reinstated within weeks as the staff started dropping like flies from Covid, giving them terrible staffing problems. Similar happened at the hairdressers. The girl that does my nails wears one because she's self employed so every week she has off with covid is a week with no money. She keeps a window and the outside door open too. I wouldn't be going if she didn't seem clued up on covid.

I still wear a mask if I have to go in somewhere, but mostly I avoid having to go in anywhere as much as possible. We've all had it several times and I'm heartily flipping sick of it. I'll do anything that might put off getting it again. I definitely don't want to give it to my parents or my grandma.

I don't see many people wearing them now (North-east) although I still have to wear them in certain healthcare settings but not others (GP but not for certain hospital appointments). Doesn't seem to be any logic.

I still wear a mask on occasions. Had to on a cruise ship and flight but I choose to on the tube and in crowded situations. I always have one with me and judge the situation.

I currently have a slight dry cough and me wearing a mask makes others feel more comfortable. I would definitely wear one if I had a cold etc. to avoid spreading germs.

Just had a conversation with DH about this yesterday. I'm in Ireland and over the course of the past two or three weeks I've noticed a lot more people wearing masks. We commented on it as it's very noticeable

More and more people seem to be wearing them where I am - East Midlands.

I tend to assume people wear a mask because they have covid and are trying to do the right thing

It depends on the mask, I have a severely impaired immune system and so I use a well fitted n98 euqivalent, so it does protect me no matter what other people do - isn't that what all the people who thought we should all roll over and die wanted us to do? Nothing to do with OCD

As with everything covid related those of us who are vulnerable are treated as dispensable idiots burdening society.

I rarely see anyone in a mask and assume if someone is wearing one they probably have covid. I've noticed the vet, surgery and pharmacy don't require them now either, and they were the last places asking for them.