Face Masks in shops

is it possible a dampened face mask might stop some aerosol borne virus getting through?

Eastern women who wear face coverings for all but eyes can send smiles so brilliant they are quite disconcerting.

Sent to me by a friend. All together now...

I hear people saying ‘I don’t listen to the news anymore because it’s so awful’ etc. So perhaps people genuinely don’t know or don’t care anymore.

Perhaps Boris is right (after all even he can’t be wrong all the time according to the law of averages) and it is up to local councils and local populations to be held accountable for their own actions.

What I want to know
Where is the war time spirit so many were on about early on?? Many seem to be the same who fight masks.

It’s mind blowing.

Assuming all those things SuzannahM.
Unfortunately, I expect the great British public will blunder along incompetently as it likes to do.

Was in a very large Boots shop today. No one apart from staff and myself were wearing masks, shocking.

I can't remember where I read it although it was quite recent (it was a scientific journal site and written by a doctor) but in theory cloth masks should offer protection in both directions. What he said seems logical to me.

A lot has been made of the tiny size of the virus, but the virus is expelled in vapour when we breath, and it is the much larger vapour droplets that contain the virus that will be stopped by a cloth mask. From both directions.

The vapours will eventually sink into the cloth, with the virus, but if the mask has two or three layers (mine are three) it should be pretty safe for a couple of hours of shopping, and with social distancing and hand washing.

Assuming it fits properly. And has no holes. And is not worn on the head or round the neck instead of the nose and chin. And is not worn for a number of days without washing. And is not continually removed and put back on.

Jane10 No, of course we are not in an operating theatre but, I take the advice from the WHO website. I confess to having made the two layer masks shown everywhere on YouTube but, now make the three layer ones as recommended.
Visors have a place but, they only protect the wearer from getting the virus sprayed into their eyes or mouth so only effective if other people are wearing masks. If you want to protect other people you need to wear both

The cloth masks and "face coverings" are useless - the virus is small enough to get through them in either direction. The three ply disposable masks are better and that is what I shall be wearing - when I have to, hardly anyone is wearing them in our area as we are all practising proper social distancing out and about as well as in the local shops. If the government's intention was to encourage people to feel safer and shop more then, so far as I am concerned, they are failing miserably. I will do nothing other than essential shopping for the foreseeable future - my husband is still shielding and is refusing to go out at all and I have no intention of taking stupid risks around people with ineffective masks and potentially bringing the virus home to him.

Tweedle- only just back on this thread. We're not in operating theatres, just shopping. Scarves are perfectly acceptable pulled up over mouth and nose. How they are put on and removed are the same as face masks. Hands can be washed/sanitised as required in exactly the same way. Me? I've got a visor.

The mask had printed on it "This is F** Pointless".

Well what a rebel - how old are you?

I'm a nurse but am a bit of a sceptic regarding the efficacy of the general public wearing face coverings having seen people with them below the nose, tatty, on/off, how often do they wash,/dispose etc.

However it's the current advice to wear them in enclosed spaces, and mandatory in a few days so am now wearing one inside shops; also based on countries who've handled the virus so much better than we have e.g. Germany, it's what they've been doing so for now I'll go with their example.

In the early days we didn't need masks as the UK was in lockdown, no non-essential shops, pubs, restaurants etc., so no need for a mask as you were not in close contact with other people.

Good grief, I've just tried watching the Russell Kane clip - what a complete and utter oik - as if I'd take any notice of what a person like that says.

As to the science, then 'science' is still arguing about it, as far as I'm aware - some for, some against which makes you wonder if they can't get something like that right, then they don't really know. I don't think any scientist argued against the use of seatbelts back in the day, though.

And now I'm just repeating myself, but Why, if the facemasks are so effective didn't they make them mandatory back in March? Why the shop worker/shop visitor discrepancy and why the shop visitor/office worker discrepancy?

Still, I'm not posting on this any more. You are wasting your breaths trying to convince me that there's some point to masks, and I'm wasting my time trying to convince you. I've got to wear them, end of, but I will not do it without protest.

Thanks for posting the clip Furret. There’s really no argument after watching that is there? He puts it so eloquently especially the BJ impersonation.
It’s now winging through cyber to entertain my friends.

Thanks for sharing the Russell Kane clip Furret. He’s spot on

It's what I wanted to post, Furret, but was afraid of being banned and my reputation as a moderate and gentle poster being destroyed for ever! ??

Specially good description of our Prime Minister on there.

Thanks MD wasn’t sure it might shock a few!

Furret ? Thank you, it sums it up better than I could.

Russell Kane on face masks

Not sure if this link will work you might have to wait a couple of seconds and slide to beginning. But it says it all.

* Some folks really need to get a grip. Pull on your big girls pants and get a mask on when you’re shopping. It’s half an hour in the supermarket*

Well said Grannywannynanny

I'm horrified by those figures for retail workers.
A normal, non-risky job suddenly became life-threatening.
The same for bus drivers.

Why shop staff don't have to wear masks, tho, I have no idea.

It doesn't have to be a mask.
You can use a scarf or a snood or anything else to cover your nose and mouth.

Marydoll I feel your despair ? I honestly can’t get my head around why anyone would object to wearing a mask for a short time while shopping. Even if there was only a small chance of it benefiting each other surely it’s the right thing to do.

We’re being asked to wear a soft comfortable face covering for shopping or public transport. It’s hardly a great hardship. It’s about being considerate to others, especially those in a vulnerable position who are at high risk.

Some folks really need to get a grip. Pull on your big girls pants and get a mask on when you’re shopping. It’s half an hour in the supermarket.

This is how our front line workers look after 12 hours strenuous work in a pressure fit mask and full body length PPE. They are on their knees at the end of a shift.

Think of them and think of the vulnerable and try to see beyond your own nose that should be under a mask while you’re shopping.

Lucca That is the way I feel. Seriously, what is the harm? What a strange thing for people to decide to be rebellious about.