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Original poster

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

384 replies

Kcc73 · 29/09/2022 07:08

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

OP posts:
RainStalksMyWashing · 02/10/2022 12:58

Good points @AsterixInEngland.

RainStalksMyWashing · 02/10/2022 13:11

I took OP's points about health anxiety to be on a par with someone saying they are justifiably anxious about money - lots of people about to suffer with financial concerns. Would we ask them to seek help for anxiety or would we accept it as a rational response when factors outside of their ltd control inc policy decisions are going to have a detrimental effect on them.

PerfectlyPreservedQuagaarWarrior · 02/10/2022 13:29

Dishh · 02/10/2022 12:10

@PerfectlyPreservedQuagaarWarrior

Indeed, and I'd also point out that vulnerable to covid and vulnerable per se are not synonymous. There are people who weren't vulnerable to covid who were made vulnerable/more so due to lockdown.

Could you explain further what you mean here?

Yep of course. We presumably all know that there are people whose health makes them more vulnerable to covid. This tends to get abbreviated to just 'vulnerable'.

Then there are people who were vulnerable to lockdown ie they became more at risk of harm than they'd previously been, specifically because of lockdown. This includes people who were living with abusers who they were now stuck in the house with all the time, people whose jobs could no longer be done because of lockdown but didn't quality for financial support and in some cases suffered greatly due to lack of money. It includes people who were reliant for their welfare on services or just routines and rhythm of life that just stopped during lockdown: I have an ND child and so I know a few families in that position, some of whom really suffered.

There are some people who actually fall into both categories, which is in itself a really important point to make. Then there are people who fall into just one, so for example a 23 year old with no underlying health conditions living with a violent partner is statistically not vulnerable to covid but would've been made more vulnerable by lockdown. And obviously there are some who were neither.

RainStalksMyWashing · 02/10/2022 14:10

@PerfectlyPreservedQuagaarWarrior thanks. Lockdowns definitely made some more vulnerable too and were not equitable. Covid has made others more vulnerable too (vulnerable due to pressures on NHS and not catching other illnesses in time and those with organ damage after catching covid, plus some with long covid being more housebound, unable to work, living with abusers, mental health suffering due to loss of quality of life/pain/bringing it home to loved one). It's a horrid situation and one we don't seem to be planning longterm for. There are many measures between lockdown and vaccines for some.

PerfectlyPreservedQuagaarWarrior · 02/10/2022 14:52

Yes, it was essentially about weighing up which vulnerable people the government wanted to prioritise.

Shiningstarr · 02/10/2022 17:21

No. We are now meant to be 'living with covid'. If my husband gets covid he is still expected to go into work.

Redfrangipani · 03/10/2022 02:22

RainStalksMyWashing · 02/10/2022 13:11

I took OP's points about health anxiety to be on a par with someone saying they are justifiably anxious about money - lots of people about to suffer with financial concerns. Would we ask them to seek help for anxiety or would we accept it as a rational response when factors outside of their ltd control inc policy decisions are going to have a detrimental effect on them.

Good response! Wish I could have gotten this point across so clearly.

Dishh · 03/10/2022 04:08

PerfectlyPreservedQuagaarWarrior · 02/10/2022 14:52

Yes, it was essentially about weighing up which vulnerable people the government wanted to prioritise.

Are you suggesting that one or more groups should have been prioritised over others?

Overthebow · 03/10/2022 06:57

Dishh · 03/10/2022 04:08

Are you suggesting that one or more groups should have been prioritised over others?

Show quote history

think they’re saying some vulnerable groups were prioritised over others, which is exactly what happened.

PerfectlyPreservedQuagaarWarrior · 03/10/2022 07:02

Dishh · 03/10/2022 04:08

Are you suggesting that one or more groups should have been prioritised over others?

Show quote history

I'm pointing out that prioritising some vulnerable groups over others is precisely what did happen, the pp is correct.

krisskrosses · 03/10/2022 07:04

Yes, I think if numbers are rising then the government should re-introduce measures to try and curb it.

I don't mind wearing a mask, but I'll only wear them if other people are, as being the only person sat on a bus in a mask is absolutely pointless and doesn't protect anyone.

They are to protect others, so if other people aren't wearing them then I won't.

The government need to sort it out and bring in measures if the cases are going up.

Tornado70 · 03/10/2022 07:10

I wear a mask when I’m in a more crowded indoor place, and at work (clinical healthcare setting).
Do whatever you feel is best for you. Some types of face mask do reduce the risks.

TightDiamondShoes · 03/10/2022 07:23

Dishh · 03/10/2022 04:08

Are you suggesting that one or more groups should have been prioritised over others?

Show quote history

So what would your solution be?

you cannot have both lockdown and NO lockdown running at the same time.

in grown-up land choices need to be made and not everyone will benefit from those choices.

there is no perfect solution although from MY pov, I choose to prioritise DV victims and CSA victims every single day over an 86 year old in a care home.

RainStalksMyWashing · 03/10/2022 07:38

In neither scenario was an 86 year old in a care home prioritised.

UnmentionedElephantDildo · 03/10/2022 08:03

Solutions

a) provision of Evusheld, putting the most vulnerable on similar footing to geeral population
b) mask mandates to flatten peaks, on public transport
c) masks in clinical settings

Yes, b makes it harder for people who really cannot wear masks, but exemptions would still exist and most of their life would be unaffected

Those who are highly immune compromised are affected every single day they live under the current recommended precautions - it's the equivalent of the entire population of a city the size of Glasgow or Sheffield still being in Tier 3. That's a lot of the population living in a way that many on this thread would find intolerable.

My priority would be to give them their lives back

PerfectlyPreservedQuagaarWarrior · 03/10/2022 08:05

People who advocate for mask mandates never seem to engage with what they'll do about widespread non-compliance. Nor tell us who's going to be responsible for enforcing it and funding any costs.

RuthW · 03/10/2022 08:11

I have covid, my partner has covid and 5 of my friends went down with covid yesterday.

After my unofficial'3 weeks grace' I'm back to masks everywhere. I still have to wear them for work anyway.

BeyondMyWits · 03/10/2022 08:20

PerfectlyPreservedQuagaarWarrior · 03/10/2022 08:05

People who advocate for mask mandates never seem to engage with what they'll do about widespread non-compliance. Nor tell us who's going to be responsible for enforcing it and funding any costs.

How are they doing it in Germany?

Since Saturday it has again been compulsory to wear FFP2 masks on public transport and some other places... not medical type or fabric ... actual acredited FFP2 or better ones. Dd moved out there for a years study she says they just get on with it, and don't seem to have mass exemptions either.

PerfectlyPreservedQuagaarWarrior · 03/10/2022 08:21

BeyondMyWits · 03/10/2022 08:20

How are they doing it in Germany?

Since Saturday it has again been compulsory to wear FFP2 masks on public transport and some other places... not medical type or fabric ... actual acredited FFP2 or better ones. Dd moved out there for a years study she says they just get on with it, and don't seem to have mass exemptions either.

Show quote history

The Germans haven't had the collective experience of Partygate.

Harebrain · 03/10/2022 08:28

Masks again? Absolutely not, under no circumstances. Scotland kept them for much longer than us & we saw how well that went…not. If you want to wear one, go ahead but please don’t suggest that that should be forced on anyone else.

Dishh · 03/10/2022 08:56

UnmentionedElephantDildo · 03/10/2022 08:03

Solutions

a) provision of Evusheld, putting the most vulnerable on similar footing to geeral population
b) mask mandates to flatten peaks, on public transport
c) masks in clinical settings

Yes, b makes it harder for people who really cannot wear masks, but exemptions would still exist and most of their life would be unaffected

Those who are highly immune compromised are affected every single day they live under the current recommended precautions - it's the equivalent of the entire population of a city the size of Glasgow or Sheffield still being in Tier 3. That's a lot of the population living in a way that many on this thread would find intolerable.

My priority would be to give them their lives back

Thanks for this - I second all of it.

there is no perfect solution although from MY pov, I choose to prioritise DV victims and CSA victims every single day over an 86 year old in a care home

@TightDiamondShoes We haven't had such an overt ageist/disablist statement in in while. Well done to you. That is horrifying thinking that, unfortunately, a great many MN posters indulged in during 2020/21. I can only hope it doesn't start again.

DillDanding · 03/10/2022 08:58

Face masks are pointless. But if you feel happier wearing (a proper) one - do it. Don’t expect your kids to though.

Dishh · 03/10/2022 08:59

I should clarify: the statement in my previous that read

"there is no perfect solution although from MY pov, I choose to prioritise DV victims and CSA victims every single day over an 86 year old in a care home"

was from a post by .@TightDiamondShoes

Brealinr · 03/10/2022 09:06

cinnabongene · 29/09/2022 07:22

If you want to wear a pointless bit of cloth over your face, then crack on. Personally I’ll take my chances without and enjoy breathing in some fresh, crisp autumn air

That’s a good point, outside yes breath in all the fresh air you want. On a packed train wear a mask if nothing else it could help prevent coughs and colds spreading which can make people more vulnerable.

we should be Thinking of others who may not be visibly immune compromised but very much are.

PerfectlyPreservedQuagaarWarrior · 03/10/2022 09:06

Harebrain · 03/10/2022 08:28

Masks again? Absolutely not, under no circumstances. Scotland kept them for much longer than us & we saw how well that went…not. If you want to wear one, go ahead but please don’t suggest that that should be forced on anyone else.

They did indeed, which is another thing those who support mandatory restrictions never have an answer to. And of course, people know what happened. The England and Scotland comparison is there for all to see. Which poses a credibility problem for mask laws going forward.