Will you be wearing a mask?

If it becomes law to wear them outside, I will be housebound. Many of my generation will remember childhood visits to the dentist for tooth extraction under gas and the mask that was put over our faces. I get panic /anxiety attacks even thinking about this! Friends I have spoken to are having the same reaction. It's not long since I came off medication to control them and I would prefer not to be taking pills just so that I can go out! Even an oxygen mask in hospital has produced the same reaction.
Stopping writing now as symptoms starting up

The virus measures between 0.06 to 0.14 microns so fabric weave needs to be smaller than that. Something like an N95/99 FFP3 rated mask is what you should be looking for.

Home made masks will not protect you but if it serves as a reminder not to touch your face then it will have some use.

Son got some from korea but can't get more as they are only allowed to post 8 out of the country .

One of my sons lives and works in Beijing. During February he advised me to get some masks because the Virus would be on its way. People in China wear masks when in public - part of their culture, you could say - to combat pollution.
He followed up his suggestion by sending a parcel of masks. So since the first ones arrived from Amazon, I have always donned a mask. Of course it is not the easiest apparel if you wear glasses as do I. You can either breathe or see, but not at the same time! Unless that is, if the glasses are worn over the top of the mask - but if shopping, the bottom shelf poses a challenge as your glasses will fall off.
Does a mask give protection? The Chinese think so.

Allule......Absolutely ! Looks to me like the Government will be using the scientists in this country as the fall guys ..they keep trotting out that they are following the scientific advice.
And WHY are our airports still open.
The least Boris and his crew should do is to man up and admit their mistakes.

No.

Not wearing one currently, but have been following academic journals. It's complicated, but this summary made me think perhaps I should when the lockdown is relaxed. Masks for all? The science says yes.
www.fast.ai/2020/04/13/masks-summary/
Written: 13 Apr 2020 by Professor Trisha Greenhalgh OBE and Jeremy Howard

A dressmaker friend is making dozens of masks and asking for donations for a local homeless charity. I have bought 8 so far and given them to family and friends in need.
It's a sign of the times that this friend has also been called on, with others, to make gowns for the local hospital.
My family moved me in with them and I am not allowed to go shopping so don't need a mask, but if I did have to do the shopping then I certainly would ! Stay well everyone.

Not if I don't need to. Who is going to pay for these masks? And we are also being told that the masks are all but useless so what is the point of having them?

NO! If it becomes compulsory then I will have to but I think it will lead to a false sense of security.

I understand that basic masks are to protect other people, not the wearer, so need to be worn by everyone. This would seem sensible in busy settings like public transport and shops.
I cannot believe that our 'scientists ' know better than scientists in all the countries that have adopted them.

Good luck with that ..... I’m not ‘vulnerable’ and have to go out 2/3 times a week to shop( no car)... I’ve tried for six weeks to get masks....hand sanitizer....wipes..... gloves. None to be had anywhere!

I have ordered masks on Amazon; surgical ones with loops and N45 grade reusable, as recommended by a newspaper doctor. They will arrive in May. I have just come back from my walk and for the first time I wore a scarf as a mask. I have asthma and the symptoms have been exacerbated by the pollen count so l have been needing my reliever inhaler a lot.

Yes to protect others Use any piece of fairly tightly woven cotton, an old teatowel maybe, make an oblong shape and elastic or rubber band loops over the ears, no need for pleats. Put it on then don't touch and when you take it off ( by the ear loops) treat it as contaminated, wash in hot soapy water and dry in the sun.
A visor protects you. I had a stiff piece of clear acetate from a document folder so have sewn it to the brim of a hat.

No, I would not wear a mask.
I don’t think they protect anyone.
Even if it became a rule from the government, I wouldn’t wear one. I do have personal issues why not.

If you want to make a mask in 30 seconds with no sewing

twitter.com/AlohaMolaMola/status/1246050051756937219?s=09

I wouldn’t feel comfortable wearing one but if it became mandatory I’d have no choice. Love that word choice. Don’t have much if it these days do we?

Yes,I made my mask from you tube pattern, you can use a neatly folded kitchen paper , cut vacuum filter,or dried anti bacterial paper as a filter,throw the paper away and wash the cloth mask n reuse again. Must a reason why so many countries compouosly to use it,better than use a scraf ??

I won't be wearing a mask anytime soon unless it becomes compulsory.

Yes

Masks are so easy and cheap to make, even from a tea towel, it is not beyond the wit of man to improvise with things around the house.

I have made them for all the family and have just answered a call from our Maire for people to make them. I am waiting for a delivery from the commune with all the materials to make them expecting to be deluged as I admitted to being a professional couturiere! This where France scores as things are run regionally and even our tiny village has a Mairie, things get monitored and done under this system.

Sorry to confuse everybody. Having said the paper disposable masks are no good, they are still better than nothing.
Just remember to always pinch the strip over the bridge of your nose.

My DH, who is 70, went to the supermarket as he didn't want to put other people in danger doing our shopping. He did feel very vulnerable as people were not taking the social distancing seriously. DH sister sent him two packets of face masks from USA, (made in China) because they don't need them (according to DT) and now he feels safer. We are sending the second packet of mask to all family members, especially those working on the front line.
The nurses and doctors in the family are telling us to wear masks or at least cover our faces when outside. They know more then anyone what is going on and I for one trust them and will listen to their advice more then the government's, who is proving they don't have a clue.

I think from a physiological perspective, the government should tell the nation to wear masks because they are helping to save people's lives by preventing the virus from spreading, and masks are a visible indication that everyone was doing their bit. In WW11 gas masks were given to every citizen, thankfully they were not needed but the nation had to carry them everywhere just in case.

The government has not issued face masks because they have none,and I suspect no money to pay for them. The only thing they have plenty supply of is bullsxxx and their fantastical answers. Demonstrating once and for all that they certainly do not show any respect to the NHS, for the last ten years and now they are found wanting.
So please if you are out and about, just wear a mask of any kind, if it is not for you , then do it for front line workers before it is too late for them.

The paper surgical masks are no good. You need the ones with the FFP3 filter system but those are probably hard to get now.
The ones I bought before all the panic are made by 3M and only FFP1 and I also have a FFP2 which is for DIY work to protect from fine dust etc.
However as I've said before any mask isbetter than no mask in my opinion.
In reply to grannysyb you have to pinch the metal strip over the bridge if your nose to get a close fit and to stop your glasses steaming up.
My daughter, who is a theatre nurse told me that.