MASKS

I’ve got a cotton one and some disposable ones. The cotton once is definitely hotter, so won’t be a problem in winter, but the disposable ones are cooler. I forget I’m wearing them. I’m okay with the cotton one too. I have asthma and I can breathe perfectly well wearing a mask. If poison gas was being pumped into the atmosphere, people would quickly enough put a mask on without complaint!

Poland: if we shout, sing, sneeze etc the droplets travel much further and also the air is coming from much lower down in our lungs: where, if someone is infected presymptomatically or asymptomatically the viral load will be greater and far more dangerous. For what it’s worth I think everyone in your congregation should have been made to keep their masks on the whole time. If the government had mandated the wearing of masks months ago the death rate in this country would be much lower.

Just been to Sainsbury for the first time wearing a mask. I couldn’t wait to get out. I need glasses for reading so normally wear them on the end of my nose when shopping, had to keep taking them on and off,so probably at more risk after picking up items from the shelves., and then taking them off again. I found it made me very hot, not good with hot flushes either!

It is clear that this deadly virus is here for a long time and does not discriminate who is affected. As a post Covid19 patient still suffering the after effects of it, I would say that wearing a mask and following distancing guidelines is essential if you care about your life, about others and most of all your families. I would not wish this illness on my worst enemy. It is still not clear how I contracted it in early April since I had not seen any of my family after 29 February, was taken out once on 14 March. In addition to shielding until next month I had followed the personal distancing when my Carer called once a day and hand washing. The only possibility I am told was an asymptomatic contact which means, as you will all know, contact with a carrier who shows no symptoms. I have multiple co-morbidities and survived much to the surprise of my GP. We cannot know who is asymptomatic and therefore there is a degree of risk for everyone. If wearing a mask reduces the risk for all of us, surely it is right, regardless of the threat of a fine. As one person has mentioned it is possible to get an ‘Exemption Badge/Card’ which goes some way to avoiding any stressful or abusive situation that might arise if an ‘entitled person ‘ is questioned for non- masking. Everyone has to make up their own mind. May I add that I heartily agree with some of the observations re anxieties of returning to high street shopping. Like it or not there is an element of fear amongst many: so rapid shopping and no browsing might be the new way for some. Life is precious and is for living - at least we don’t have to wear a mask 24/7. Best wishes to all and stay safe.

There should be NO question about masks. Wear them.

Definitely for them. Should have been compulsory at the beginning of outbreak. And, apart from a very very few eg throat breathers there is no excuse for not wearing one. They do not reduce your oxygen saturation level or else we would have had all the NHS staff collapsing in Covid units and theatre staff landing on the floor every day during surgeries.

I'm sorry but try and wear one for hours on end and see how you like it, knowing its to care for others. Think about being ventilated, having a pipe put down your throat isn't nice. Wearing a mask is a respectful and necessary thing at the moment. I'm sorry to be blunt. If I hadn't retired last year, and deemed not safe to return to nursing, I would be wearing one for 12 to 13 hours at a time and I won't complain. Those that don't want to wear one because it is your right, well my right is that you do wear one for my protection.

Many people have to wear masks for long periods as part of their job eg dentists, surgeons, builders. Shop assistants, bus drivers are very at risk from Covid 19 as they are dealing with the public all day If you value other people's lives wear one. It's not comfy, I have asthma but I wear one to go in a shop. You will not suffocate. You can breathe. We have to think of others.

Posted on Facebook by a young friend....

When I wear a mask in the shops I want you to know that...
I'm educated enough to know that I could be asymptomatic and still give you the virus.
No, I don't "live in fear" of the virus; I just want to be part of the solution, not the problem.
I don't feel like the "government controls me". I feel like I'm an adult contributing to security in our society and I want to teach others the same.
If we could all live with the consideration of others in mind, the whole world would be a much better place.
Wearing a mask doesn't make me weak, scared, stupid or even "controlled". It makes me caring.
When you think about your appearance, discomfort, or other people's opinion of you, imagine a loved one - a child, father, mother, grandparent, aunt, uncle or even a stranger - placed on a ventilator, alone without you or any family member who is allowed at their bedside.
Ask yourself if you could have helped them a little while wearing a mask.

Thank you for voices of reason Beanie and Frankie.

And Quizzer.

Absolutely agree with the OP. I had started going to non essential shops before compulsory mask wearing. Stopped after being sniggered at in Tesco. Went out for the first meet up and 'social' shopping with my sisters since before lockdown. Went for lunch with a look round a big multi department garden centre. Nice meeting up with them, but a sheer misery wearing a face covering for any length of time. Got far too hot, and now will revert to not doing non food shopping onjne, or not at all, and now seriously considering getting our food shopping delivered. Sorry, but no, I don't think mask wearing will help the high street economy.

I have to wear a mask for my job as a carer. This is to protect myself and the volnurable people I care for. I hate wearing them, but as part of the requirement to carry out my work and with respect for the people I go into in the community, I wear it. Some of the people I go to would prefer I didn't wear one, one reason being that for anyone hard of hearing it makes conversation very difficult and when the carers are the only people going in conversation is important.

Out of work I think the wearing of the face masks should be optional. It should be up to each individual whether they want to protect themselves. It's another way our freedom of choice is being taken away, just as some shops not accepting cash now, our choices are gradually being taken away. I used to mostly spend cash before the pandemic, it is a far easier way to manage your spending.

It's all about panicking us and taking away our choices and gradually controlling us more and more

Our choices are not being taken away, unless the choice is to possibly infect other people. It’s selfish not to wear a mask, and now it’s illegal. Good!

Surely, as a carer it is only responsible to wear a mask outside of your working environment to protect the people you care for? If you understand why you need to wear a mask when working surely you understand why it’s important to wear a mask when not working?

Quite agree. I’ve just returned from doing my first supermarket shop wearing one and hated it! My glasses steamed up as soon as I entered the store and I kept having to take them off to wipe them☹️. Any tips? (I was wearing a cloth face mask with my glasses over the top...)

In all countries where wearing a mask is compulsory or the custom anyway, the virus is lower than in the UK. I am a 79 year old asthmatic and wear a mask in some places where it is required, and I just put up with it. You don't have to wear it outside but a lot of people do, I have even seen then strolling down the promenade at my local beach wearing a mask. The virus will be around a long time and like Spain we could have another wave. I got my mask when on holiday in Vietnam because of the air pollution from millions of motor bikes. The Vietnamese have no problem with masks and their virus rate is low. If I can wear one with my asthma
so can you. You will get used to it and we have to prevent more deaths from covid.
I do think though that we are rushing into things by trying to open up various places too early. Its for the sake of the economy and not for our health. Take care. WEAR A MASK!

I really would not worry about it. Folk should just scroll on if they don't want to engage in the post. ?

I will wear a mask because it is the law and I am a law abiding citizen.
I do get that they are uncomfortable but once you start wearing it, you do get used to it, although it did cause a bit of a panic the first time.
I am thankful that I do not have to wear one for work, my daughter has to wear one for approximately 8 hours a day!

If you google steamed up specs there are lots of ways to avoid this. Also check that fabric is 100% cotton as polyester etc can make you far more sweaty.

My OH was given blue foot covers when he attended the dentist recently! That did seem a tad OTT!

I'm not keen but will wear a mask because I have to. My problem is that so many people don't wear them correctly, and I know a few elderly people who either wear the same (disposable) one several times, or a reusable one without washing it ..so I find myself wondering how effective they will be. I guess anything is better than nothing

Compared to lockdown and not leaving the house wearing a mask in shops is comparatively simple. People just like to make a fuss.

I am exempt from wearing one as I am asthmatic. Even the finest mask triggers breathing problems.

I now wear a lanyard with an official "I am exempt" notice in it and going shopping does not bother me - because everyone else is wearing one!

Popped into Lidl yesterday and the security chap was waving everyone in. He said that the manager had said to allow free access, mask or not.

I do question, however, how the population can build up a natural resitance if everyone is wearing protection?

you can wear a face visor like i do. and i have a lanyard that says i am exempt from wearing one .i have problem breathing through my nose .so a visor is good.... i wear a visor in my charity shop because i have found that i keep picking up a cough when i dont..i would rather be safe than be sorry...

I do agree with Galaxy and others about the decline of the High Street though. Its unfortunate but this pandemic has hastened what was bound to happen in the near future. People are going more for online shopping and working from home. It's just all been speeded up. I think most of us now use online shopping. Not sure I'll go back to High Street shopping in a hurry, mask or no mask. We will all have to find other ways of interacting to stop a loneliness epidemic.