Masks would it have made a difference

Yesterday I was sititng in the garden with my son who was about eight feet away from me. It had turned cooler and I had a bout of sneezing . Not having a hanky I puuled up the bottom of my loose tee shirt and sneezed into it. Whe I went back ti the house I put on a clean tee and lathered and dried my hands.

My point is trying to inhibit spread of this virus is relative. One does what one can.

The reason for specific prohibitions and injunctions is so it's easier for people to comply.

Obviously it would have been ideal for test, trace, and isolate to have been done at the beginning of March or even later, but that was never absolutely possible. This government's rules are too much oriented towards economic growth and profit for a socialist like me.

Hindsight is wonderful isn't it? The government have always acted upon the scientific advice, what else could they do, we are in unchartered waters with this virus. We are where we are, you cannot go back. A lot of the deaths (around 30%) have been attributed to obesity, this is mainly self inflicted with poor food choices, we need to change the way we live to look after society and the NHS. Since the start of lockdown I have worn a mask and gloves anyway, my choice, I didn't need to wait to be told.

Yes, compulsory mask wearing would have made a huge difference, as would earlier lockdown and real quarantine (in hotels, like Greece, not 'self isolation).

Perhaps that all misses the point though. The government's slowly introduced half measures, sending people from hospitals to care homes without testing - and releasing of lockdown rules all point to one conclusion.

Herd immunity (slowed down) is still the aim. What other explanation is there?

My son lives in Czech Republic.
Face covering/masks were made compulsory in public.
That and an early lockdown meant fewer deaths and a country nearly back to normal.

I'm wondering how effective air purifiers would be. They are supposed to remove airborne viruses so if they were installed in all public places, it might go some way to preventing all viruses not just this current one.
There is a lot of confusion about masks. We need more information. I have made one but haven't worn it yet, as no-one else is wearing them. (in my area).

It most definitely would've made a difference. At the first signs of what was happening in China, people in Hong Kong took it upon themselves to start wearing masks, without waiting for the government, or health officials, to tell them what to do. SARS was still firmly in their minds from 2003, and they knew what they needed to do to protect themselves, and others, from the virus.

To date, there's only been 4 deaths ... quite amazing, considering the close proximity to mainland China, and being one of the most densely populated cities in the world. Of course, the government's handling of the situation, after their initial slow response to close borders, has been very good, with proper testing/tracing/tracking/quarantining. Unlike in the UK, who are still dilly-dallying over everything. Talk about closing the stable door after the horse has bolted!

And remember how angry some people were about the introduction of seat belts at the time?

Without strong leadership and rules given to people then they will just do what they think or feel Is appropriate and everyone will have a totally different interpretation on wishy washy instructions

I don’t see why masks can’t be made mandatory seat belts are and so are crash helmets and the government doesn’t pay for either of them do they

In Hong Kong everyone wears a mask and their death rates are so low.

Wearing a mask is an act of complete selflessness in that you are protecting others, not yourself. However, that act of selflessness will eventually lead to you and yours being protected with the added bonus that this virus will be eradicated. It's now been established that contracting the virus does give immunity and that people aren't being re infected. Also that it isn't the sort of virus that stays in the body like AIDS or hepatitis. Once it's gone it's gone although it does shed dead viral particles for quite a while. So we are on our way out of this as long as we carry on doing everything possible to not catch it or not infect others. The immunity may not last for years, though, which is why it needs to be eradicated as quickly as possible. It also appears to be quite stable and isn't mutating. It's all looking much more hopeful than it was a few weeks ago.

They won't help at all if people won't wear them, and it seems the tide is turning.

People are now fed up with it all, so they're making their own rules, based on the fact that they're sensible (and virologists, too, presumably)

I heard today on the radio that if lockdown has been implemented two weeks prior to when it was that 1/2 of the people who died wouldn't have-

I feel somewhat the same about masks, that if everyone wears them transmission could be cut in half-

They are said to protect other people from the wearer, not the other way round. So it only helps if everyone wears them. It's no good being the only wearer, unless you've got the virus, then others are protected from you.

A lot of lives would have been saved if masks had been worn earlier on and it's unbelievable that they still aren't mandatory. The measures we put in place to prevent the spread of the virus are a joke compared to other countries.

I'm convinced masks help. I've worn them for pollution before and they definitely help with that, so it makes sense that they'd be useful for a virus. Not 100%, but partially.

Here in Wales our First Minister Mark drayford is the one going against the rest of the uk saying they have minimal use.

Many countries have made face masks compulsory, especially in shops and public transport, and that has been helpful in limiting the spread of the virus.