Sunday Express Skeleton 24Th November...
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Why Bother With A Mask
158 Answers
Today I had to visit my local hospital to collect some Gastrografin in advance of a procedure to be undertaken on Friday 13th. My wife dropped me off at the main entrance as I walked through with my smiley mask affixed. There was a large woman sitting at a small table with a tray of masks on it. She looked like she was a poppy seller. I used the hand cleanser on the wall of reception and carried on walking to the CTC suite. A voice boomed at me,'come back here and take a mask' I walked back and asked if she was talking to me.'Put this mask on and wear it in the hospital'. She then proffered it to me on the end of a pair of wooden tongs like I was a walking Covid Germ.I was sorely tempted to tell her to shove her inferior paper tissue mask where the sun don't shine.
I asked her what was wrong with my mask and she replied,'Nothing but we need to stop covid so you must wear this mask' I then asked her if I would get another mask on Friday or do I keep the one she had just given me as a souvenir. She said,' keep it if you like'.
If the NHS let some job's worth hand out inferior masks to visitors to the hospital and demand I replace my medical grade re-useable mask then why the hell do I bother wearing my mask in other public venues if it isn't deemed suitable. Obviously why no apparent improvement over the last 20 or so years no matter how much wasted money is thrown at it. No quibble if they have the Gestapo insisting a mask is worn but to hand out inferior ones to visitors who already comply by wearing their own seems stupid..
I asked her what was wrong with my mask and she replied,'Nothing but we need to stop covid so you must wear this mask' I then asked her if I would get another mask on Friday or do I keep the one she had just given me as a souvenir. She said,' keep it if you like'.
If the NHS let some job's worth hand out inferior masks to visitors to the hospital and demand I replace my medical grade re-useable mask then why the hell do I bother wearing my mask in other public venues if it isn't deemed suitable. Obviously why no apparent improvement over the last 20 or so years no matter how much wasted money is thrown at it. No quibble if they have the Gestapo insisting a mask is worn but to hand out inferior ones to visitors who already comply by wearing their own seems stupid..
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Look at the advice from WHO nailit and every scientific body advising on Covid. Ask your GP what he/she thinks. Ask any doctor/nurse. But if you think 'what do they know ' a have no figures to hand to help and its pointless looking - just wear your mask and do your bit and hopefuly it will soon be over
//A lump of damp rag wont do...//
But it will. The legislation says it will.
//Im sure youd allso complain if there were spotchecks by police/council officials outside restraunts, shops etc, judge, to check masks.//
Indeed I certainly would. The government has had eight months to get its legislation right yet still it (and the accompanying advice) is the same. The guidance even tells you how to make a face covering at home. Presumably advisors from the health service had an input to that guidance.
//We are advised to clean them and change them. If someone's not bothering to do that (wear clean ones) theres not much Tescos can do.//
Why should they worry? If the law is being complied with that's all that's necessary.
//The rules are there to help peopel...//
That's not strictly true. The guidance is supposed to help people. The rules (or legislation) are there to see enforcement. But this isn't about that. Both the legislation and the guidance says that a home made face covering is compliant. But this question has illustrated that it isn't acceptable in at least two NHS hospitals. So the question remains: if a home made face covering complies with the law, is in accordance with the guidance and is deemed sufficient for Tesco's, why isn't it sufficient for a hospital?
But it will. The legislation says it will.
//Im sure youd allso complain if there were spotchecks by police/council officials outside restraunts, shops etc, judge, to check masks.//
Indeed I certainly would. The government has had eight months to get its legislation right yet still it (and the accompanying advice) is the same. The guidance even tells you how to make a face covering at home. Presumably advisors from the health service had an input to that guidance.
//We are advised to clean them and change them. If someone's not bothering to do that (wear clean ones) theres not much Tescos can do.//
Why should they worry? If the law is being complied with that's all that's necessary.
//The rules are there to help peopel...//
That's not strictly true. The guidance is supposed to help people. The rules (or legislation) are there to see enforcement. But this isn't about that. Both the legislation and the guidance says that a home made face covering is compliant. But this question has illustrated that it isn't acceptable in at least two NHS hospitals. So the question remains: if a home made face covering complies with the law, is in accordance with the guidance and is deemed sufficient for Tesco's, why isn't it sufficient for a hospital?
Why should they worry?
Your confusing whats good practise and sensible with the law. A dont wear masks of any type just to comply with a law, its because a want to do my bit to help peopel like you even sellfish ones who dont do the same in return. Protecting myself a bit is important to. So a wear a clean mask.
Simple. Your over complacating things again
Your confusing whats good practise and sensible with the law. A dont wear masks of any type just to comply with a law, its because a want to do my bit to help peopel like you even sellfish ones who dont do the same in return. Protecting myself a bit is important to. So a wear a clean mask.
Simple. Your over complacating things again
//Your over complacating things again//
Not so. This is not about what you or I wear or why we do so. This question has highlighted that in at least two hospitals only "approved" masks are acceptable. The law says face coverings of any type are compliant; the guidance says face coverings of any type are recommended - even so far as it provides instructions on how to make one. If people need protecting they need it everywhere. Any coverings are deemed sufficient anywhere except in hospital. So (last time of asking): why is that?
Not so. This is not about what you or I wear or why we do so. This question has highlighted that in at least two hospitals only "approved" masks are acceptable. The law says face coverings of any type are compliant; the guidance says face coverings of any type are recommended - even so far as it provides instructions on how to make one. If people need protecting they need it everywhere. Any coverings are deemed sufficient anywhere except in hospital. So (last time of asking): why is that?
I'm not remotely convinced that masks, especially home-made ones, are any use whatsoever. Have infection rates gone down since the introduction of masks - no! Have many people abandoned social distancing since masks came in - yes! Let's get back to proper distancing and abandon masks so we can all breathe properly.
//Because there are more likely to be ill or vulnerable people in a hospital.//
So people walking around Tesco's (who may also be ill or vulnerable, though I accept perhaps not so numerous) do not deserve a similar level of protection? Not all the ill and vulnerable are under hospital treatment and nor are they confining themselves to their homes. If the legislation is designed to protect people (and in fact that's doubtful because on more than one occasion politicians and scientists have suggested it is more to "provide confidence" for the pubic) then it should protect all people - which is the nub of my argument.
So people walking around Tesco's (who may also be ill or vulnerable, though I accept perhaps not so numerous) do not deserve a similar level of protection? Not all the ill and vulnerable are under hospital treatment and nor are they confining themselves to their homes. If the legislation is designed to protect people (and in fact that's doubtful because on more than one occasion politicians and scientists have suggested it is more to "provide confidence" for the pubic) then it should protect all people - which is the nub of my argument.
// It has never included wrapping a couple of pieces of fabric over your face.//
I would hope not, pixie. But the public at large has not had the benefit of such training. More than that, the current (Nov 4th) guidance from the government, says this:
"You can buy reusable or single-use face coverings. You may also use a scarf, bandana, religious garment or hand-made cloth covering but these must securely fit round the side of the face."
There is no restriction on the fabric to be used, or how thick or non-permeable it must be. Taking it literally, a piece of net curtain will suffice so long as it fits properly. It's an absolute joke.
I would hope not, pixie. But the public at large has not had the benefit of such training. More than that, the current (Nov 4th) guidance from the government, says this:
"You can buy reusable or single-use face coverings. You may also use a scarf, bandana, religious garment or hand-made cloth covering but these must securely fit round the side of the face."
There is no restriction on the fabric to be used, or how thick or non-permeable it must be. Taking it literally, a piece of net curtain will suffice so long as it fits properly. It's an absolute joke.
