Who Wants Masks?

[diddlydo]

Boris announced yesterday that masks are to be made compulsory again in shops. In the summer he said that there would be no going back on the relaxation of measures. Face masks are a complete waste of time given the way that most people wear them so how many will join me in this little bit of civil disobedience and refuse to wear them?

[weecalf]

Bring back Matty at least with matty you knew it was not gonna work .

[gness]

We're going to have to live with Covid for a very long time.

Even worse though is having to live with the "look at me" people who come on a forum to brag about their little protest which, if they do stick to it, will make Covid last even longer.

[andres]

I have had to wear a mask for the last 15 years whenever I have been near our pigeons . Not to protect them but to protect my lungs from further damage from the disease that I got from them. I don't like wearing masks for any length of time but will continue to do so whenever it is necessary. It's a small price to pay .

[Untitled]

Meta study from BMJ suggests masks correlated with significant decrease in transmission:

https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj-2021-068302

National Academy of Sciences, USA from January... metastudy concludes strong evidence that masks reduce transmission

https://www.pnas.org/content/118/4/e2014564118

CDC review on cloth masks... last updated in May... finds that they do block both large and fine respiratory particles... cloth masks generally less effective than surgical or multi-layer but still block some particles:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/science/science-briefs/masking-science-sars-cov2.html

this study goes further, comparing different types of mask... again cloth less effective but they are far from useless and mixed fabric/multi-layer are even better!

https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsnano.0c03252


Do not listen to the drips who say there's no evidence they work... there is... masks aren't everything of course but they do help and they are not much of an imposition...

[sunny-dave]

In a fair world, the previous answer from Untitled would be given 'Best Answer' here and then made compulsory reading before anyone ever again espoused the idiotic "Masks Don't Work" nonsense.

They do work, it's been proved - if you also add Social Distancing then transmission is significantly reduced.

If Omicron evades the vaccines (even partially) then it's our only hope of avoiding more draconian restrictions until the vaccines are tweaked.

[lankeela]

The answer is none of us plebs really know so isn't it better to go with the masks in the hope they do work rather than without them and knowing there is nothing to work anyway?

[Boto]

I live in Wales so have to wear them. In supermarkets most do comply. I don’t use public transport so really can’t comment from personal experience but from what I’ve been told most people do wear them. I don’t particularly like masks but it’s no great hardship to wear one, even if it only helps a little.

[anneasquith]

I doubt anyone wants masks. Hopefully the majority will take the advice of the professional people and wear a mask where appropriate.
For the rule breakers, do what you like, but at least have the decency to respect others and stay out of their way .

[vulcan42]

\\ [email protected] "What's changed?" What has changed is that a huge % of the population has now been jabbed, double-jabbed or triple-jabbed.//

We know inoculation doesn't stop people getting covid or preventing them from carrying and passing it on. However the triple jab reduces the severity leading to less serious illnesses and deaths. If wearing a mask contributes, even in a small way, to preventing passing on covid why not wear one? Ignoring the beneficial evidence seems foolish..

[andres]

I remember as a four years old child going to school , a box slung round my neck with a gas mask inside. Weekly drills were carried out in the school playground. The masks were uncomfortable, hot and smelly but were necessary. I don't remember anybody complaining back then. Some people nowadays need to get a grip and stop moaning.

[elliemay1]

IMO you have little to worry about if wearing a mask when in a shop or wherever bothers you. Anything which may help is worth trying

[Arksided]

I’ll wear mine even if the possibility of unknowingly passing it on is very slim, why wouldn’t I. Even being Asthmatic a little discomfort doesn’t bother me rather than put someone at risk.

[diddlydo]

It's quite clear that most of the answers above are from people who behave like sheep following their beloved Boris.

[dannyk13]

Diidly //behave like sheep following their beloved Boris.//
No, they behave like responsible adults.You should try it sometime.

[Mamyalynne]

I think you should do what you think is right, both for your own safety and that of others.

Unsure why you feel the need for a posse around you.

[diddlydo]

I don't want and don't have a posse as far as I can tell!

[anneasquith]

My decision has nothing to do with Boris. He does not make the decisions re covid. There are experts for that .

[gness]

Ours neither, Anne...but then why would we...... :-)

[Stickybottle]

diddlydo
Question Author If those who, like me, aren't wearing masks since July 19th continue not to wear masks, Boris may get the point that people are more than p****d off with his U-turns and messing with people's lives. I remember months ago on this forum Naomi was complaining about namby-pamby interference with normal life.

As you do not appear very bright I will give you a clue here :
Boris is not in charge of the virus
He has no control over how it will mutate and variate globally
Just to be crystal clear nobody does
As I asked earlier if you are unfortunate enough to become ill with it do not go to the gp or local hospital and avoid co tact with any other person at all costs
We will at least thank you for that
Do the personal accounts of murraymints and others not register with you ?
They clearly do not so please follow the instructions above

[anneasquith]

Tis true G :-)