Push for masks to be reintroduced

[GerardusMercator]

Over the last few days I've noticed a big push in media to get masks back on the agenda. A brief foray into twitter and flick through a few Covid threads here, and I've seen all the old pandemic era versions of 'it's no hardship to mask'/ your selfish if you don't want to mask etc start to creep back in.

How many of you are-

1. Still masking now
2. Will mask if it becomes guidance
3. Will mask if it becomes law
4. Will not mask again under any circumstances

I really struggled with masks and don't believe they make a great deal of difference (covid theatre) so would be somewhere between a 3 and 4.

That first point should be number 1 not a bullet point 😂

Only 3. If it became law. I seriously hope it doesn't.

If they want people to mask up and make it law, they need to do it properly and issue them like gas masks in the war.

The grubby multi-used rags oft seen during the pandemic were bloody useless!!

I wear a mask at work and on public transport

1. If there are exemptions as before.

And also a 3 and bloody hope it doesn't!!

It’s just the media trying to distract from everything going to shit. But I believe masks should be worn in hospitals still and for anyone going to the GP etc. If you’ve got a cold/flu/covid and have to go out shopping then wear a mask.
If it’s all covid theatre then masks don’t need to be worn when a surgeon is operating.
So in healthcare yes absolutely, elsewhere no it’s not going make any difference now as people don’t give a shit and believe it’s just a cold still whilst also not seeing the shitstorm in A&E from bed blockers from no carers or family willing to take parents on discharge.

But in the media it’s just being used to put labour against Tory etc to distract from everything else and get you to post like this, so it’s working.

Somewhere between 3 and 4! I bloody hate them, they're a faff, uncomfortable and make me feel all hot and sticky. I'm definitely going to resist wearing one!

Half of the people wearing them didn't have them on properly, or the actual masks that are effective (not the scraps of paper), people walk around touching it and pulling it down etc. Might as well not bother!

I've never worn a mask

I couldn't agree more but I fear that bringing back masks (in any form) is a wrong minded attempt from the government to look like they're handling the current crisis in the NHS.

This! European countries made it you had to wear a proper FP2/3 mask not the shit blue surgical that does fuck all.

A 3, but decent ones should be provided

I'm using my masks again, but I don't consider them to be grubby! They get boiling water poured on them after I get home, for what else can we do? I'm so glad I didn't throw them out.

This gives me hope!! All I've heard today is people saying how they should bring back masks on Radio 4- it's enough to give me depression (that combined with it currently being the month of January)

I'd just like to add that people should of course feel free to wear whatever they want on their own face as long as I'm not compelled to do the same.

Also hope it doesn't happen. Hated the arguments and diatribes in real life and social media about it! Anyone else remember the threads re 'maskless shopping hours' with a poster who was insistent that they shouldn't have to wear a mask, but everyone else should to protect them, and was raging that anyone else might also not be able to wear a mask and could be in the shop at the same time!

probably 4. Will be hunting for the exemption lanyard in a drawer somewhere.

I still mask on public transport/shops/hospital/crowded area.

I think I always will now, regardless of what anyone else does.

crowded environments with poor circulation are how diseases spread.

There are more virus like covid that hide in your system for years and cause long term issues.

Wearing a mask is not the most sensory fun I’ve had but neither are the various colds/flus etc that people go about with spreading throughout the public domain.

If there is one thing covid has taught me it’s that people feel entitled to suit themselves regardless of the impact on others so I must focus on the actions I can take to protect myself, like wearing a well fitting kn95 mask even if I am the only one doing so

No.

I honestly used to think I'd lost my mind reading shit like that, so the creep, creep of such language coming back in the last few days has been troubling.

1. I’ll be exempt

This thread is just going to highlight again how most people still don't understand how mask wearing benefits others.

If it becomes guidance I would.

Having spent time in A and E last week I don't think this is just a drill/ selective media stories, my experience makes me believe the NHS is dying on its arse.

I think people understand exactly how (little) mask wearing benefits others, especially when weighed against all other factors. Mask wearing is not neutral- it too has a cost.

I wear in medical settings. If I had to go out when ill would definitely wear one. If they're guidance, will wear, although may start wearing more anyway now. LC has truly fucked my life.