Covid 19 - Lift all restrictions?

I may be wrong but some of those (not just on GN) saying that under no circumstance should the government continue - as things get better - to insist on people wearing simple faces masks in some circumstances seem to be those who would happily have agreed to the banning of face coverings a few years ago.

One rule for them it appears and another for those ...

Look from a business point of view the longer Face Coverings are mandatory the more we sell.

Personally I am uncomfortable with the idea of them being mandatory for the foreseeable future.

Secondly unless they are worn correctly they are next to useless.

Also from a business point of view, I personally would not use a hairdresser, small shop, etc, where face coverings aren't worn. Transmission rates are very low in my area, but there have been some mini-surges and, having come this far, I don't want to risk it. I realise that I can't avoid all risk, but I will still avoid when I can.

Businesses are going to have to weigh up the risks for themselves - whether to try to increase business by allowing everybody in or to advertise that they're still Covid-safe to encourage customers like me. They have to consider the safety of their own staff too.

GrannyGravy A multiple-layer mask worn over the mouth and nose is not going to be next to useless. As many articles have pointed out, it's not the same as going into an enclosed space filled with poison gas or barrier nursing an infectious patient. It's about reducing the volume of virus-laden particles floating about at face height.

growstuff a mask/face covering worn incorrectly is next to useless is what I said.

By ineffective I was referring to face coverings that I have seen out and about, obviously home made and not multiple layers.

GrannyGravy13

Look from a business point of view the longer Face Coverings are mandatory the more we sell.

Personally I am uncomfortable with the idea of them being mandatory for the foreseeable future.

Secondly unless they are worn correctly they are next to useless.

That’s not true. They will result in the droplets not travelling so far and falling to the ground sooner. I know the masks you make need to have protection against asbestos etc but this virus spreads in a different way to dust particles. And why the hell are we all arguing about whether or not to wear masks when the world is still in the middle of a pandemic that’s killing people?

Off to Jersey on holiday in July just noticed they are hoping to drop masks by the middle of June

Maybee70 a mask/face covering that it is not covering the nose AND mouth is the PHE and WH0’s definition of not worn correctly.

Walking around a shopping centre earlier today, the way some face coverings/masks were being worn would not have protected anyone.

I am not arguing with anyone just stating a fact!

This might help

Then people need educating don’t they.

MayBee70
As much as you would wish it to be compulsory for all of us to wear masks outside, it was never law.
I think you’ll find your not going to get your wish with the figures being as low as they are.
I’m out and about a lot and I see a lot more people wearing lanyards. It’s now been established that shops have no right to challenge you as to why your wearing one.

I dont think anyone could have possibly missed the advice regarding mask wearing Just depends on whether they take it

Now how many grans netters were teachers ?

rosie1959

I dont think anyone could have possibly missed the advice regarding mask wearing Just depends on whether they take it

Going by the amount of opposition to my post regarding an incorrectly worn face covering/mask is as effective as a chocolate teapot along with the fact that unless a home made mask is made according to PHE guidelines they are also ineffective, I am beginning to wonder?

rosie1959

Now how many grans netters were teachers ?

Not me, but there seems to be quite a few.

I’ve never said that an incorrectly worn mask is any use. But if only 50% of people wear them properly that’s reducing the viral load by 50%. Which is better than nothing. I apologise if I’ve said face masks should be worn outdoors for the foreseeable future. But I would like them to be worn indoors in public places and on public transport until this virus is under control in this and other countries.

I’ll support you GrannyGravy. Everything I saw with how to wear a mask correctly, at the time mask wearing in shops was made mandatory (with a £100 fine possible if not complied with except for medical reasons, so therefore very much not just guidance) it was made perfectly clear that the mask should cover both the mouth and the nose. Good grief, it’s not rocket science, it’s perfectly clear that a mask not covering both mouth and nose is useless.

What we know about the Indian Variant

"Lots of reports have been in the media this week about the Indian variant, but it can be tricky understanding what it all means for us. We’ve analysed our data and although there appear to be localised outbreaks in areas like Newport in Wales, Glasgow and Aberdeen in Scotland, as well as Leeds and Wolverhampton in England, we have yet to see any significant impact on our figures, with rates remaining roughly the same as last week.

This is the latest update from the Zoe app, which collects data from over 4 million people daily and is very accurate at plotting how CV-19 is behaving in the UK.

While the overall UK numbers are steady and most cases appear mild, it’s highly unlikely to cause the NHS to be overrun or stop us coming out of lockdown. Tim’s advice is not to panic, but do stay vigilant and keep logging with the ZOE COVID Study app so we can stay ahead of the curve and monitor outbreaks like these."

Sorry, should have made clear that the above was Tim Spector's report on the data collection for the past week.

The only thing that worried me is that 9 Indian Drs who had received BOTH jabs have died.

GrannyGravy13

Espee we have been repeatedly told get vaccinated to ensure that the UK can open up. 70% of UK adults have now been vaccinated, over 35% have had second jabs . The vulnerable and elderly who were most at risk of extreme Covid or death have been vaccinated.

So far all new variants are covered by all available vaccines, the scientists have the ability to tweak if/as required as they do each year for the flu vaccine.

The NHS is nowhere near overwhelmed with Covid-19 patients and the numbers being admitted to hospital are not growing.

The ONS figures say that UK now has lowest mortality figures in the last five years.

We do not close the Country when there are bad flu years , we have to learn to live alongside this virus, it’s here to stay.

HEAR HEAR

Isn't this what's supposed to happen on June 21st. All restrictions lifted.

Being on contraceptive pill or HRT have higher percentage of blood clots than Astra Zeneca. Also a lot of people on medication for all sorts of health problems have higher risk of clots than this vaccine.

Agree

On the mask issue I have wondered just how effective the "blue surgical" type readily available in shops and often given out at medical facilities really are. Usually there are massive gaps at the sides and unless bent tightly over the nose gaps in that area too. I did make my own masks, double layer with a pocket for an insert of fine material or tissue so not all homemade ones are useless.