Masks

[Flute56]

Covidd is rising. I just came back from abroad and nobody wore a mask on the plane/ I think that is awful. Liz Trus shoul insist on wearing a mask on all public transport. I caught covi on the plane. Whhen I went abroad previously a few onths ago masks were compulsory

She should go

It won't be able to avoid masks or air quality measures.

how come neither of these things defeated it previously?

Where hasn't air quality helped?

This thread is depressing. So much misinformation and selfishness. And the UK government is definitely failing us by pretending it's a cold.

Long covid is affecting hundreds of thousands to the point that the Bank of England is concerned. Actuaries are crunching the numbers. Health insurance in future will likely want to know your past COVID infection status because this will determine your likelihood of serious health problems.

Of course you can catch covid in the plane. They have HEPA filters but these are not generally on when the plane is at the gate or taxi-ing. Therefore try to board last and definitely wear a mask throughout. And if no one else is wearing a mask then the risk to you will definitely be higher. One-way masking can only do so much. Masking in any public transport/planes makes 100% sense.

The most effective form of mask is an N95. These can be reworn multiple times. They don't touch your mouth so are much more hygienic. I recommend the 3M Aura.

Washing your hands/hand sanitizer will help against many diseases, but COVID is airborne, so not much help here. Hence the need for masks.

Also hence the importance of ventilation (bringing in fresh air, not recirculating old air) to dilute the viral load. In absence of ventilation, HEPA filters can do the job but they need to be powerful enough for the space they are in, and filters need replacing.

And importantly, investing in good air quality benefits everyone, not just regarding COVID but RSV and all airborne pathogens, and it keeps CO2 levels low which is vital for cognitive ability. Are your children feeling sleepy in school? CO2 is probably too high. Better ventilation will help!

twitter.com/1goodtern/status/1583500249624367104?s=46&t=yFVk883b4fQ13qnot4xKIg

I didn’t say it hadn’t helped. But nothing has defeated Covid.

I would like them to be compulsory on all public transport as they were in Germany when I was there last month (and on the Lufthansa flights), but it is not going to happen in the UK.

I expected you are quadruple vaccinated as well as being ultra hygiene conscious. Do none of the precautions work , then? So….why bother.

I think if you are that concerned about getting covid that you think everyone should be masked etc then perhaps that isn't the place for you.

I have just come back from a cruise. No masks required. I am sure some bugs including covid were circulating but quite frankly I didn't care and anyone that did should not book a cruise.

Viruses which impact people differently from nothing to severe will always be circulating, I think you should manage your own risk and thus find a different route to travel that doesn't mean everyone else is impacted by rules you want to be arbitrarily implemented.

I think it all comes down to how badly we want to break the NHS

There were more admissions so far this October than there were in whole of October in 20 or 21. Just because we get shouted at for mentioning it doesn't mean it's not happening.

The lack of provision of Evusheld is heartless, and also shows how little the government wants to act on pretty basic health economics. Highly incompetent.

Also the "twindemic" - masks and better ventilation are also highly effective against flu, and no-one particularly wants that ghastly cold either.

The BQ variants are just around the corner, which isn't terribly encouraging on what to expect next.

And the more that's found out about long covid, the worse that's looking too.

I think being reckless about catching - and therefore spreading - covid and flu is going to be harmful. And is certainly going to cause real hardship

Had my booster, medical staff aren't wearing them. It's just another illness, can be horrible but so can flu

I read this thread yesterday, and had my booster earlier. Was interested to see that 2 people had theirs and apparently no staff were wearing masks, so took notice to report back.

10 booths, all staff wearing masks. Reception and lady telling you where to sit had masks. Even the lady outside asking if you had an appointment was masked.

No people coming in for vaccine were wearing - apart from DH and I.

I had my sixth jab in September and not one person at the venue was masked. Last one I had, in June, everyone was, and I was taken to a side room to have my vaccination because I'm exempt and they didn't want me mixing with everyone else - which is fair enough. I was glad and relieved this time that they didn't need to make such a fuss of me!

I've now notched up seven covid infections and have come to the conclusion that if you're immunocompromised there's not a lot you can do about it. I practically didn't leave home for a year and a half and I still don't go far but still it gets me.

We're at the point where if you're scared of catching it you have to take responsibility for your own risk, just as CEV people have done with other illnesses since forever. It's shit but that's the way it is.