Face Masks in shops

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

The tip from Wheniwasyourage definitely works!

I'm buying a shield. I can't get on with masks and I figure that if it protects me from stuff coming in, surely it must protect others from my stuff coming out! I watched yesterday (from a position of safety) whilst people walked up to stores, looked at the hand sanitiser and then carried on without using it. All the time we have idiots doing that, coming too close to you in shops and just generally not caring, it makes sense.
As for smiling at shop assistants, that is covered too, dancingjay.

Not sure if that would work. Surely the whole idea is to prevent us breathing out droplets which may be inhaled by others?

I can't believe that it has taken the government so long to make this announcement. This is just a reflection of the decision making process as a whole and a pointer to why we have struggled so much

I have only just started going out and wear a mask in shops. I agree with MawB that saving lives is the most important aim.

Incidentally, for those worried about breathing, there is a surgeon on Fb who has attached himself to an oxymeter to demonstrate that wearing a mask has absolutely no effect on oxygen saturation levels whatsoever.

Medical and nursing staff have worn masks for years without complaint and we all know how overheated hospitals can be. I nursed for over 40 years and can honestly say that I have never ever heard any staff in the hospital objecting to wearing a mask, nor relatives/friends visiting a patient whose condition required barrier nursing.

For the sake of saving lives, I think a bit of discomfort is to be tolerated

Please can I make a plea that you consider toddlers when buying a mask. Some of them are terrified by dark covered faces, buy or make something pretty or pale coloured. (even the men!) It is hard enough for the the poor little ones being unable to hug their loved family members and being told to stay away, they don't need nightmares on top.

Some people spit when they talk. Many's the time I have taken a step back if someone has started up a conversation in a queue. I could have done with a mask a few times----or an umbrella

I had already bought an assortment of face masks as I thought it wouldn’t be long before they became mandatory. I’ve yet to find one that doesn’t steam my glasses up - for some reason the one which has a vent - like a bottle top as someone mentioned was the worst offender ?! I got some off the internet like the one Boris wore yesterday and quite frankly when they arrived I took one look at them and thought they weren’t a lot of good as they are so thin although they are comfortable to wear.
Unfortunately taking my glasses off isn’t an option for me as I can’t see far enough to walk down the road or round a shop without them.

I've just ordered a couple of boxes off ebay---now for the surgical gloves.

www.rcreader.com/commentary/masks-dont-work-covid-a-review-of-science-relevant-to-covide-19-social-policy

We must wear face covering in shops from the 24th July. That's okay for me because I have been wearing face covering for about 10 weeks in shops, even though my neighbours laughed at me when they saw me going out shopping with a face covering on.

What is the difference of wearing a face covering in a shop
than in the pub? The concept is the same you are in an enclosed space and near to other people.

I wear glasses and had the same problem. I invested in masks for myself and my husband that have nose wires thus you can shape them over the bridge of your nose so that your breath doesn't fog your eyewear.

I agree totally with Dancinjay.

I can understand the need to wear masks, but I find it very difficult to understand what people are saying when they are wearing one, so I'm not looking forward to it to be honest .

B9 pretty patterned or pastel masks might be OK for women but men? Hard enough to get them to wear regulation black!

I have some sympathy with both points of view. But, I do wonder why were initially told face masks were a waste of time and did not work - was that because there was not enough PPE to go round so anyone other than health care workers must be discouraged from using it? Secondly, are we now being made to wear face coverings in the hope it will increase confidence to go out and spend money in order to support the economy? Cynical, moi?

I’m very relieved frankly. I have been a wearer in shops and am aware I’m not protecting myself as such but protecting others. If we all do that then good job done. A small ask and how can anyone argue ? Appreciating some cannot wart

Dancingjay got to agree with what you say, what about not agreeing with others opinions but agreeing with their right to say it. Doesn’t seem to apply here all the time does it.

We should have been wearing masks for months really, but I also have the glasses steaming up problem and after about half an hour feel quite sick from the smothering feeling. Guess I will have to get used to it. Have tried 5 different masks and don't feel comfortable in any of them but we have to do it.

The problem is how is this going to be enforced? The police can't be outside every shop and the shop assistants should not be responsible for enforcing a Government instruction, particularly after a bus driver in France was killed because he tried to insist that his passengers were wearing masks.

I don't mind wearing a mask but I resent the price some places are charging. How can it be £29.99 for eight scraps of cotton? (Gap, Baukjen, etc.) I'm not handy with a needle, before someone suggests that. I have ten at the moment for DH and me, and as they have to be washed after every use I'm thinking that won't be enough. I'd like to wear latex gloves as sanitizer irritates the rash on my hand, but they seem to be in short supply. My pharmacist says the rash is a fungal infection and that it needs steroid cream only from doctor, who has very lengthy waiting list for appts. Any suggestions, anyone?

It made my day to read so many positive answers on here as opposed to so many on FB groups who are adamant that ‘THEY can’t make me wear one’.
We’ve worn masks for so long it feels odd without them -a bit like sitting in a car without a seatbelt. My DH, DD and DGC all have asthma in varying degrees of seriousness but still manage wear masks.
If that’s what it takes to help get rid of the virus then it’s a small price to pay.
I asked a friend who has COPD how he’d cope. He said he’s not opposed to masks but struggles when wearing one, but then added that he can’t go out shopping because he’s afraid of what others might pass on to him. He thinks this ban won’t make life better for him because he still won’t be able to socialise or shop.
Aggie I shared your post with him and he said it was “wicked” an indication of his age group rather than a criticism I hasten to add.

Ilovecheese yes that could be a problem but let's start by getting most of the people wearing them. They could always have marshals if deemed necessary.

Hurrah - it's great to see more of you speaking up with opposing views.
Interesting to hear a comment about people in some countries wearing masks most of the time and still getting a resurgencies?
Also there are those of the muslim faith who naturally cover their faces, yet they are among some of those who have been infected to a much higher degree.

I was reading something this morning about someone who had a death in the family which was heartbreaking.

"We had a death in the family yesterday morning. My husband’s grandfather. He was 92 but of completely sound mind and health. Never got sick. He has been deeply emotionally affected by Project Fear since the start of the hysteria and lockdown, and despite restrictions being lifted – because of his age group – they remained social isolating. He was not even seeing their daughter (my mother-in-law), because she devised a system of getting them groceries without communicating in person at all by leaving it in a car in the car park! Four months locked away.

We weren’t told this on the phone when we got the news of his death, but we just learned… it was suicide. He was muttering all week that he had “had enough” and he couldn’t take it anymore."
How tragic!