It’s a bit like giving contraceptive advice at the delivery .. 4 months and now it’s compulsory . Not sure why it’s taken so long. But at least we dont live in the USA.
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How do other readers feel about wearing face masks in shops? We are fortunate enough that our daughter who lives nearby has insisted on doing our food shopping for us and what with the odd delivery we have not needed to go into a shop since lock down. I realise that we do need to start going out to shops soon, keeping as safe as we can. I was quite relieved when it was announced on Friday that Boris Johnson seemed to hint that wearing face masks might be made mandatory as Scotland and many other countries have done. I then heard Michael Gove say that wearing face masks should not be mandatory but rather should be worn to show good manners. My question is surely good manners do not come into it if I wear a face mask to protect others, surely I should be able to expect the same from everyone else to protect me. I know that face masks are not the only preventative measure but surely anything and everything that helps should be done.
It’s a bit like giving contraceptive advice at the delivery .. 4 months and now it’s compulsory . Not sure why it’s taken so long. But at least we dont live in the USA.
JenniferEccles I quite agree.
If the plan from Boris is to make people feel more secure about going out shopping, what about all those ( me included) who will be even more reluctant to shop now we've got to go dressed with what looks like a panty liner tied across our faces.
And please don't go on about how selfless wearing a mask is. Those who wear them are doing it to supposedly protect themselves, not some stranger they get close to in a supermarket. Selfish people were all those who went out hoarding in the run-up to the lockdown. Did they care about anybody else except themselves? No, they did not.
I'm hoping that they are not compulsory for staff. There's no way I could do a shift without touching it! And there's a screen between me and the public anyway...
if we have to wear face masks I think people need further instructions on how to wear them safely, on my local bus and in the local shops I repeatedly see people with the disposable masks that have obviously been used several times, also they dont have them over there nose, which can cause more problems than not wearing a mask at all, The cost of buying masks for struggling families is also a problem some traders are taking advantage and making large profits, input from the government is needed.
It's the word "mask" that has people panicking!
The wording is actually "face covering" so it can be a scarf or anything that covers your nose and mouth - doesn't have to be a full strength medical grade!
Lots of pretty cotton face coverings available and in fact that you may find that someone local to you is making them.
Well said JenniferEccles. This site seems to be populated by worry bosuns. Have never stopped going to the shops. Want life and the economy back to normal as soon as possible, but I will wear my masks, have several with skulls on. Am shocked at the amount of women too afraid now. Get out wear a funny mask and get on with life.
JenniferEccles the numbers are down because so many people have been hiding away.
The more that people get 'out there' the more chance there is of an increase in numbers, as already seen in some places.
The worst is not over.
I don’t see the problem. Just wear one. My husband says his glasses steam up but he wears one anyway and b......s on but is road testing a snug black stretchy one. It’s sometimes just a case of finding one that suits.
I am one of those that really struggle with this "mandatory"
wearing of face masks
I have panic attacks,, particularly when my face is covered, had two events , one having eye surgery,, the other the local doc. taking a biopsy from my nose..
even the doc was scared what was happening to me ...
so all the "facts and opinions" as to the efficacy of wearing a mask is really lost on me..
and I guess there are many others with a similar problem.
Just as I had visited our local supermarket since months of isolation,,,, thinking we were moving forward,, seems to me a huge backward step.
Fortunately, we've been able to get grocery deliveries since the start of the pandemic with very little trouble. DH wears a mask to get prescriptions etc.
I too wear glasses and had a bit of misting when wearing a mask. Read that to stop this just rub your specs with a bar of soap and then wipe until clear. Or wash in soap and leave to dry. I did the first method and it seems to work. Don't know if I'll end up with a bubble bath if it rains though!
It seems completely illogical to me to make masks mandatory now the numbers infected have come right down.
The evidence for their effectiveness is apparently still weak so I was disappointed to learn that we must all be muzzled in shops soon.
I can see why the government has been reluctant to make the wearing of them compulsory.
As a country we are trying to get back to normal to help prevent a catastrophic recession so it’s essential to build confidence in people to get back to their normal lives.
We are telling people the worst is over, get back out there, yet everyone is wearing masks !
Some people will be reassured to see that, but others could feel that ‘out there’ is a dangerous place !
I'm in Scotland and we had to wear them from last Friday . I went shopping on Saturday and found that I got over hot and flustered whilst wearing it .
The test is ' can you blow out a match whilst wearing it ? '
I couldn't so it's considered to be a good mask but then I couldn't haul in enough air to breathe !
I'm doomed...........
I've seen a few stories like that, Greeneyedgirl
Also saw a video clip of people explaining why they wouldn't wear masks
One woman was outraged that they were trying to steal the air that God gave her. Just found the clip. Florida residents explaining why they don't want to wear masks. They are rather frightening.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=DaFSH0K4BdQ
Reaction to the pandemic seem more polarised along party lines in US Luckygirl.
On the radio the other night, possibly World Service when I was unable to sleep I heard that a 30 year old in US had died in ICU from Covid. He'd apparently been to a "Covid Party" held by a group who thought it was all a hoax! He apparently said to a nurse before he died "I think I made a mistake". Oh dear!
My 2 year old grandson wears one. He hates it but he'll do it.
dancingjay, they were lying about masks not being effective because we didn't have PPE available even for hospital staff.
You really can't follow what the government says. Even when we were in lockdown, they excused Cummings journey, saying he was within the guidelines. They make it up as they go along. You have to work it out for yourself and if you research it, the evidence says masks help.
It's pathetic that we can't trust our government ministers, but they've proved time and time again they haven't got a clue what they're doing.
Dancinjay
Lucca 'I feel strongly about how this country is reacting to Covid so I shall continue to express those strong feelings.'
As do I
As do you? What ?
bikergran
Just wondering will children be made to wear them from a certain age if out shopping and if so how would they ever enforce it as they could never check childrens ages.
I do see a few children wearing them in our supermarket, but they are older ones maybe about 8/9.
My grandchildren wear masks in shops. They are 3 and 5.
It has been the practice for people in far eastern countries, where they have coped better with the virus, to wear masks. I think it's a case of getting used to wearing them . It's such a shame we have a wishy washy government who change their advice as the weather changes. I suppose the shop keepers will have to change their notices now. For goodness sake Johnson make up your mind and stick to it. this constant faffing does not help the nation's confidence.
There was an enormous American lady on TV yesterday proclaiming her right not to wear a mask - she is a member of the "Anti-mask Lobby" - apparently it is a thing over there. With her serious obesity I am sure she would be at greater risk if she caught covid. She is probably a member of the gun lobby too.
With such people around, what chance is there of eradicating the virus?
Just wondering will children be made to wear them from a certain age if out shopping and if so how would they ever enforce it as they could never check childrens ages.
I do see a few children wearing them in our supermarket, but they are older ones maybe about 8/9.
Absolutely MawB about time too!
I think wrong shaped (big) nose might be my problem too, ellianne. Even with the mask tucked under the bottom of the glasses, the lenses steam up. Hey ho.
I think this should have been introduced weeks ago, but we seem to have been on the back foot throughout the epidemic, witnessed by the huge death toll we have had.
I went shopping in M&S food hall last week, was busy, queues were unable to distance as they stretched along the aisles. I was the only one with a mask.
They are uncomfortable, especially if you wear glasses, but it’s a small discomfort to put up with for the short time you are in a shop.
“The science” has definitely moved towards supporting mask wearing now that more is known about the nature of the spread of the virus.
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