there is a petition to make masks compulsory here:

can we start one to say that masks are ineffective, except psychologically and no, many of us will not wear one

Why bother?
If you want to wear a mask do so
When the medics persuade me I need to, I shall.
Why bother with a petition?

I'm not sure there is enough scientific evidence to make wearing them compulsory but I would be happy if it was recommended that we wore them - to possibly prevent us passing on the virus to someone else.

I'm actually planning to make a few for my immediate family using cotton and flannel type fabric, I think I will leave a gap so that a disposable filter layer can be added. I understand that coffee filters, dried wet wipes or kitchen towel have proved effective at reducing the droplets even more.

Recently announced by the Government here, a washable mask with 2 washable filters will be issued to each citizen. These are to be used when the lockdown begins to lift, mainly if using public transport.
They will start being delivered from the beginning of May.
The corner shop gave me a pack of 5 last week but i have not used one yet although I do tie a fine silk scarf around my neck which i can pull up round my face if some idiot gets too close.
Also not sure how effective they are if you have no problems yourself.

I have little faith in masks. Seems to me that we are told that they 'help' to stop the wearer spreading any cold germs they may have when the sneeze and cough. Surely, at any time, particularly now -no-one who is sneezing or coughing should be in any public place.
Also....I am concerned that if these became compulasory in public places , it would, yet again mean that there would be less available for front line workers. They really need specialised mask protection, but there would be enough people out there who would use their money to purchase even these for their personal use.
Yes, I can accept there can be a psychological aspect to wearing masks. For other people. But it can be a very false sense of security for all

I think masks should be mandatory- I'd go so far to say even face shields- And gloves-

I will be wearing one when I go for my next eye treatment in June. I go by minicab not a black cab and as one knows there is little space between the client and driver. I am aware I will only be protecting myself. Under normal circumstances, I would not bother wearing a mask.

Possibly safety glasses and/or protective goggles ..

I noticed on my last trip to a supermarket 3 weeks ago it seemed to be the mask wearers that were least considerate in standing well back and being patient .

How is the government going to ensure that everybody has an adequate supply?

I've had the same experience Washerwoman. I'm not sure I could wear a mask as I'm claustrophobic and can't stand anything at all covering my nose and mouth.

I have been wearing a face mask for almost a month now, I wear it in the large supermarket as people still get close at times. I also wear gloves in the supermarket. I was going to order a face shield as well but felt it was a bit much. I wear a cotton scarf around my neck and sometimes pull that up so it is covering the face mask.

I take items to my daughter as she has 3 children and struggles to get to supermarket. I put her items on her doorstep a few days ago and stood away from her door. She opened the door and unknown to me took a picture of me
in mask and scarf and posted it on Facebook. I was not amused but she said all her friends loved the picture of the day.

It simply wouldn’t be practical for everyone in the UK to have a supply of disposable masks so they’d need to be re-usable. Personally I wouldn’t trust that the person who used the supermarket trolley before me, or held the bus rail, had put on a clean mask before they left home, or that they’d washed said mask in a 60 degree wash, or that they hadn’t just blown their nose.

So there’d be no point to the mask apart from containing coughs and sneezes.

Also, I would find it difficult to wear a mask as my behind ear space is already full with hearing aids and specs ear pieces. Plus I would have to ask anyone speaking to me to please either shout very distinctly or remove their mask.

So no. If you want to wear a mask that’s your prerogative, but please don’t make them compulsory. (I do have tubular scarves which doubled up work quiet well)

For hay fever sufferers wearing a mask must be hell.

To all, I found the mask invasive at first but because of the frightening virus I decided to wear one. It is just second nature to put it on now.

Washerwoman : I have never been impatient when wearing my mask and will always wait for other shoppers to choose what they are buying and walk off before I push in.

I had to draw the line last week when waiting for a man to choose his chicken. All the packs were priced the same and he picked up at least 10 packs examining them all and putting them down again. I told him to stop handling all the packs and to take what he wanted and move he did not even have gloves on.
I wash all my packs and other goods before I put it away.

They are pointless Chinese wear masks all the time and it didn’t stop it from rampaging through there did it
If science proves to me that they are a necessity then of course I will but until then it’s pointless and as other have said they just give you the psychological freedom to get nearer people that isn’t useful
rose can we have a picture of you in your mask and safety goggles
No need for a petition if you want to just want wear one no ones stopping anyone that choice

Firstly, your link goldenlady doesn't work.
Secondly, even if mask wearing was compulsory it would be difficult/impossible to police.
Thirdly, would the government be able to supply approved style masks to everyone in the country I wonder. It's difficult enough for the vulnerable to get a flipping food delivery.
Fourthly I don't believe the science is robust enough yet to support this, but at present anyone can wear one if they believe it will protect themselves or others.

The Chinese have become used to wearing them- Also, they don't need to be disposable- They could be washed and reused-

I think the unfortunate problem is that most people have become conditioned to thinking it's ok to make each other sick- Going to work with virus or flu, visiting others, heading out to stores while coughing, touching items to read labels with unwashed hands then returning said item to the shelf-

Impossible to police, so it won't happen. They only provide protection if used and worn correctly anyway.

Health care workers need them, so with a limited supply, the public shouldn't buy up stocks.

We can make out own but some fabrics, such as linen or silk, are ineffective.

BlueBell ..

Same here Washerwoman people kitted out like they are about to walk into an operating theatre, hissing at others for not following the arrows in the supermarket and then they themselves DON'T FOLLOW THE BLEEDIN' ARROWS !

I wouldn’t sign a petition for anything to be made compulsory that hasn’t yet been recommended by the WHO or Public Health England. There are arguments against the use of non-surgical masks as well as for them, and incorrect use can be counter-productive.

If/When we’re advised to wear them, I’ll take the expert advice.

Here's what American experts said:

People's chances of contracting the virus remain low-

Here's what they said later on down the road:

The virus is very contagious- Stay home, wash your hands, until they disintegrate-

See?