Face Masks

[maggiebee]

I do realise that, at the moment, this will only apply in England but wondered how folks felt about it?

Boris Johnson has signed off on plans to end the compulsory wearing of face masks from July 19, The Telegraph understands, as the Prime Minister prepares to declare this week that the link between Covid-19 infections and hospitalisations has finally been broken.

Mr Johnson is expected to lay out a blueprint for how England will live with the virus, as ministers prepare to replace swathes of legal restrictions with a call for “common sense” and “personal responsibility”.

Sounds great but I do worry about "common sense" and "personal responsibility".

[rockyracoon]

I cannot wait to stop wearing the blasted things, and I totally agree with Prudie.

[pat2604]

I wear medical grade masks New Judge and my judgement is not flawed on this. I am considered at risk and act accordingly. What annoys me is your arrogance in thinking I don't understand. I am far from thick and can understand as much as you can. I will wear a mask if I consider it necessary.

[Mamyalynne]

I'll make my decision based on situation and surrounding.

Overall it will be lovely not to have to wear them.

[youngmafbog]

You carry on Pat but NJ is correct. Even with a medical grade mask it needs to be put on correctly and only worn for vey short periods, it also needs to be disposed of correctly.

It's pretty much gone round here now, even the hospitals are not pushing it.

[andy-hughes]

magiebee - // Sounds great but I do worry about "common sense" and "personal responsibility". //

I entirely take your point.

But there has to be a point where we simply accept that we have to live with Covid, and hapily, that time is approaching.

It's a worry that the popluace are trusted to be sensible, but in the same way that you raise a child, you cannot expect people to learn responsibility unless you give them a chance with it, and ideally educate them as they go in how it works.

The alternative is more draconian restrictions and now that we have swapped one ludicrously over-cautious (professionally at least!) HS, for one with a better developed sense of reality and common sense, we can get on with living our lives again.

[10ClarionSt]

Face masks serve no purpose except to be theraputic. If you think it protects you, then wear one. During the first lockdown from March 2020, face masks weren't compulsory and few people were wearing them, and the infection rates and death rates dropped considerably, so wearing a face mask is futile. I've done a lot of shopping in my local convenience store where the staff have never worn one and none of the shoppers have either, not when I've been in, anyway. They weren't necessary. WHO did a backflip with face masks, first saying they weren't necessary, then saying they were. I don't believe they serve any purpose.

[bobbinwales]

^same old mistake regarding correlation, cause etc

[New Judge]

//I wear medical grade masks New Judge and my judgement is not flawed on this. I am considered at risk and act accordingly. What annoys me is your arrogance in thinking I don't understand.//

If you had said that from the outset no "arrogant" explanation would have been necessary. The law which is being discussed here does not mandate medical grade masks. In fact it does not mandate anything at all with regards to the construction of face coverings which, in part, makes it so ludicrous.

Your wearing a mask if you deem it necessary is exactly how it should be. However, once the legislation has been ditched you cannot suggest (as you did) that lack of common sense among others is the reason for wearing one. It is not "common sense" to walk about with a piece of damp rag wrapped round your nose and mouth without good reason. For the vast majority of people there is no longer a good reason and, arguably, there never has been (but that argument is for another day).

[davebro]

I've only ever worn a mask in shops - I guess some shops will ask that you continue to do so, not sure how many tho'.

[bobbinwales]

//During the first lockdown from March 2020, face masks weren't compulsory and few people were wearing them, and the infection rates and death rates dropped considerably, so wearing a face mask is futile.//
Load of cobblers. Am not convinced they help more than reduce risks by 20% but your point is nonsense

[youngmafbog]

//It is not "common sense" to walk about with a piece of damp rag wrapped round your nose and mouth without good reason.//

And that is a very valid point NJ. I remember my daughter banging on about this years ago when many people from the East were wearing them. It was her belief, and others she worked with, that the bacteria etc was more harmful to many than anything it 'may' stop.

[10ClarionSt]

Look at the facts Bob. Face masks weren't compulsory during the first lockdown and the rates fell dramatically. You have been one of the people doing things "just in case" throughout this pandemic and not looking at the facts, even now. Bob says it's nonsense. Wow! It must be true themn if you say so, eh Bob? :o)

[bobbinwales]

//It is not "common sense" to walk about with a piece of damp rag wrapped round your nose and mouth without good reason.//
Has anyone suggested it is common sense??? I think not.
The requirement is to wear one in some situation's. The advice is to change them regularly and avoid fiddling with them. Many probly didnt do that but how could it be enforced?

[gulliver1]

The people who say they are sick of wearing masks are just being selfish, because they know the mask they are wearing is protecting someone else and not themselves . Pull The Ladder up Jack. It works both ways. Keep your mask on.

[bobbinwales]

That's just nonsense Im afraid. Quite simply ou just dont undertand cause and effect . You might as well say we didnt wear masks 2 years ago and had no Covid, then at around the time we started wearing them Covid started killing people , therefore masks cause covid. Nonsense innit as PeterPedant might say

[bobbinwales]

sorry gulliver, I sort of agree with you for once, its 10clairionst who's nonsense I was refering to

[gulliver1]

13.41, Not a problem , thanks.

[pat2604]

To be honest New Judge. I didnt need to explain I have never wrapped a damp rag around my face. Also I have seen very few round here wearing anything but the low grade medical masks, except the fashion conscious!

[pat2604]

And I didn't mean those that don't wear masks are the ones with no common sense either. Just those who think they are above covid rules, ignore them, and stick two fingers up for those following them. I shall continue to avoid crowds and give people space.

[Bobbisox1]

If I’m told to use common sense than I will , for example if I’m closer than two metres to a stranger which I never am even in a shopping centre , then I’ll wear one, otherwise I won’t