Thoughts on using facemasks again....as numbers rise

[Kcc73]

So....numbers of covid (along side other cold/flu viruses) and rising quickly.
I have had cold/sore throat/feeling fatigue - but not covid - after 7 days still can't shake it off. I am not that 'ill' and just getting on with what I have to do BUT my health generally not great and a) the thought of getting covid /or/and flu , plus all these more minor colds , and b) probably worse - the thought of my hubby or teens getting covid/flu (and they probably less careful/mindful re washing hands etc) and the impact of that alone! is beginning to get me in a spin (I suffer with chronic condition that doesn't make me cev but I have high fatigue and pains at best of times).

Yes, I do suffer with anxiety (but have reasons to justify) but as it becoming more evident that we heading into another wave, what is reasonable to do , looking at the measures we used in past - when it was kind of mandatory - that can do now?? I want , and have started wearing face mask in supermarkets . I want to ask my teens to wear facemask on public transport but because no one else, well few, are doing this, feel I can't impose this and don't want to pass on anxieties to them.

BUT I know as 'mum', that if (when) family get sick, it will fall to me to a lot more , which don't get me wrong, I do want and feel should do, - but my stance is let's try and do whatever we can to reduce likelihood or getting sick - or preparing for the worst. I am NOT going to be stopping life; but as we head into winter again I am getting worried. Hubby away for weekend with friends and now it's back to thinking 'oh expect he will bring back covid '.

So wish really there were some more mandatory mitigations tbh. I know a lot will shout me down about this. I don't think we should lockdown before anyone thinks then. Just we are a culture of 'followers' and when fold started wearing masks, it made others accept wearing ok, and when it no longer mandatory, if still wearing one you felt odd! Wondered if others starting to wear masks again or doing anything else? (apart from get vaccinated which for most won't be for a while; my appointment is late Oct as I have another health condition).

Long woffly message. Sorry!

Kc

[WahineToa]

@VampiresWife oh yeah, it’s faux concern for sure.

[PerfectlyPreservedQuagaarWarrior]

Ah yes, collective responsibility for the vulnerable and whatnot. All rather selective, as a pp points out. Nowhere to be fucking seen with my ND child during lockdown, alas. Quite fine for the state to wash their hands of any responsibility to provide meaningful education and to make laws functionally excluding him from socialisation, whilst other children were considered worthy of both. Meanwhile we pick up the pieces.

But leaving that aside for the moment, how will the mandatory measures that OP wants benefit those vulnerable groups listed? Because restrictions is what we're talking about.

[WahineToa]

What we’ve done to the mental health of young people and those late diagnosed with possible life ending disease is criminal IMO. I remain horrified at how we handed responsibility for our own lives over to unelected scientists. I didn’t sign up for this.

[MrsDanversGlidesAgain]

I'd like to point out that like many unable to wear a mask I absolutely did feel 'marginalised' when masks were mandatory, as were many in my situation. We were told to stay home if you can't wear one, called vile names, shouted at, physically attacked in some cases... People weren't too concerned about our disabilities and health conditions then, were they.


Absolutely this. All the concern for disabilities and marginalisation and health conditions only ever seems to go one way.

[PerfectlyPreservedQuagaarWarrior]

Yes, and this is the flaw in the argument that mandatory mitigations protect the most disadvantaged groups. Even if that were true, and they were hardly a roaring success the last time we had them, restrictions also expose those groups to the most control and policing. Both from the authorities (it is not a coincidence that black and Asian people were disproportionately likely to be fined) and from wider society.

So for example if you have the money to pay for supermarket deliveries you can avoid setting foot in one. Restrictions on public transport can be opted out of by people who don't need to use it, but a mask exempt person who does has no choice but to brave disapproval or worse from any self appointed enforcers who might also be present. We all know too that the most vulnerable are disproportionately likely to be the target of such behaviour.

[alloalloallo]

I'd like to point out that like many unable to wear a mask I absolutely did feel 'marginalised' when masks were mandatory, as were many in my situation. We were told to stay home if you can't wear one, called vile names, shouted at, physically attacked in some cases... People weren't too concerned about our disabilities and health conditions then, were they. It seemed as if some disabilities/vulnerabilities were worth standing up for, but only if it didn't negatively affect others (as it was perceived). When masks were mandatory I genuinely feared leaving the house because almost every time I did I received abuse

Yes!

My daughter can’t wear a mask due to her disabilities and the shit she got was unbelievable. Told she should stay home if she couldn’t wear a mask, that it was her fault people were dying and that it was her fault the pandemic had gone on so long. She was threatened and verbally abused, told she shouldn’t be allowed to go to school, or attend medical appointments, shouldn’t be allowed on a bus or go in a shop. That the effects of mask wearing on her didn’t matter, she should just try harder, that she was selfish and obviously didn’t care about others

It seemed perfectly OK to physically threaten and abuse a young teenage girl, because she was unable to wear a mask.

”just stick a mask on” 🙄

[VampiresWife]

@alloalloallo I remember you from the mask threads. Some of the things posters said about a disabled young girl were absolutely appalling.

I hope you and your DD are doing well 💐

[PerfectlyPreservedQuagaarWarrior]

But also not remotely surprising. Of course a vulnerable disabled teenage girl who struggles to defend herself is going to be an easy target for any passing arsehole.

[VampiresWife]

@PerfectlyPreservedQuagaarWarrior

But also not remotely surprising. Of course a vulnerable disabled teenage girl who struggles to defend herself is going to be an easy target for any passing arsehole.

...and also on here, by the very posters who claimed to be so concerned for the wellbeing of those who were disabled/vulnerable.