about wearing face masks/coverings

We've been told to wear masks on public transport, in any medical setting and anywhere where you might not be able to socially distance. I wear one when going to the supermarket because social distancing is so often not observed either by staff or shoppers. So yes, wear one, remembering that you wear one to protect others and if they do the same, they protect you!

Just been told by my husband that a new paper in the Lancet says they DO protect the wearer. Obviously not as much as medical grade respirators but still noticeable benefits.
It was apparently published June 1st.

@lizzies, surely if your glasses are steaming up then your mask is pointless? If it can let moisture escape then it can let the virus escape so you are not protecting anyone. This also goes for all the people wearing badly fitting masks. The masks are supposed to protect others from your germs

Gloves seem to be pointless - the virus does not go through skin, and if you touch anything infected the gloves are infected. I try to avoid touching when out, but wash my hands as soon as I get in, and then wipe front door handles and keys with a dilute disinfectant. I really can't see that gloves are any help, and may increase confidence about touching when in truth they are no different to your skin. Masks I am still pondering - haven't been anywhere that migh warrant one, but I gather from a friend working in London that she sees many people wearing masks who are pulling them about to achieve comfort and presumably increasing their risks of infection, glove wearing or not! Oh what a dilemma.

Exd
What you wear be it a mask or any other form of attire is your choice Nothing to do with anyone one else.

I think everyone should wear a mask we don’t know who may have the virus. So were protecting one another.

Do what you like, you don't know if the people round about you are carriers or not, some people don't know themselves if they have it, I purchased snoods that the oil companies use for their workforce and I couldn't care less what anyone thinks, when I wear it, better to be safe than sorry

I was wearing one when i go to my regular blood testing (for warfarin) but when you speak or ask staff anything they cant tell what youre saying so i end up unhooking it from my ear at one side so they can hear me!!!pointless telling us to wear them if it renders them useless if no one knows what we are saying!

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

You were being considerate to others wearing your mask. In such a close environment perhaps the others should have been wearing one too. Out at weekend and I felt a lot of people I encountered who were wearing a mask did seem to not bother with the 2 mtr rule. False confidence as I ciukd have coughed or sneezed on them when tge were leaning over in front of me at shelve.

Pamela J1. ....... can’t find elastic use elastic bands ... I did .

To be any use at all, masks should have at least three layers, a scarf doesn't do anything, nor would a hijab be much help.

It makes sense to wear one when inside with strangers, eg shops, garages etc, and when they open all hairdressers will have to wear one to protect you. You should do the same for them.

Wiping the lens of your glasses with washing up liquid helps stop them steaming up, but no matter how well your mask fits they still will to some degree. Wearing them lower down your nose also helps a bit.

The number of people I see pulling down their masks to talk is incredible, if it isn't covering your nose it is useless, and by touching the front of it you have just put the germs on the front straight onto your hands.

I think the Government will see how things progress, if the numbers don't continue to go down, then it may well become compulsory in shops as well.

Ive just made 4 masks for the family I live with and we will wear them when appropriate, shops etc I don’t feel embarrassed, I just want to stay safe.

Yes, I agree you should wear a mask where it is difficult to be 2 metres apart ie: shops, public places, transportation. It is for the good of others after all and something we should have been doing since day 1 of the lockdown. Some people do not have a clue about social distancing or couldn't care less, so at the end of the day, look after your self and your health. Keep masking up!!!

47 girl: absolutely. We’re all in this together and have to protect others. Having said that, as someone has said earlier it has been found that a mask also protects the wearer, so if everyone wears one it greatly reduces transmission. But we shouldn’t do something just because it benefits us and some of the comments on this thread appall me. I’ve just bought two kinds of mask: a disposable one closer to medical grade that says it doesn’t guarantee protection for the wearer but reading between the lines probably does to a certain extent and a washable one that’s stretchy and looks very comfortable. The former I shall wear if and when I do venture into a shop. DH bought the disposable ones from Boots this morning: very impressed. One in one out: door locked between customers.

ExD: Congratulations for protecting others - that is what masks are for. For many years, and long before this virus, I suffered almost annually from chest infections - horribly debilitating. On such occasions, I always wore a reusable face mask to protect my family and in public whenever I went to the surgery or hospital. I am now 83 and have been isolated for 12 weeks. I will not be going out and about just yet, When I do I will be wearing my face mask. Keep up your good work.

I have this morning been to hospital for an eye appointment, I believe it is now mandatory to wear a mask when attending. I wore my mask even though it was hot and uncountable wearing it. There were only about 50% of people wearing masks and that included a lot of staff moving around e hospital!

I wear a mask often I am the only one wearing one .
I feel a little self conscious but I will carry on wearing a mask .
It’s like look before you cross the road better to careful then not

Keep wearing your mask - I’m 76, have had Covid and recovered luckily. I’ve proved that I have immunity at the moment so I don’t wear a mask - maybe there are many people out there like me who don’t feel the need to wear one. I do have masks but hate wearing them - can’t breathe properly and my glasses steam up!!

Gloves are really dangerous if they are worn repeatedly. They spread infection. In fact some shops won’t allow gloves now. They provide hand sanitizer on entering and exiting
Gloves can only be worn once. Eg to get petrol for car

Government have recommended, but not compulsory wearing masks in shops. I’ve been wearing one when I go to shops. Don’t feel a fool every large supermarket is full of people wearing masks.

I think it depends on where you are going. If you know you'll be in a situation where you'll be in a confined space with other people, then it's sensible. Outdoors, not so necessary.

It's your health, you could be the only plonker around because you took precautions

I always wear a mask whilst doing my weekly shop or going to the chemist. It always surprises me though the number of people who don't wear masks - probably about 60%. During any outdoor activity I never wear one but always adhere to the 2 m distancing rule.

YANBU, I will be wearing a mask when I shop.