So masks are to become optional, do you think this is a good idea?

I hope N.I will keep mask wearing for a while longer, although a friend told me he was in a shop yesterday and hardly anyone had one on. I think some have had their jabs and now think to hell with this I'll be fine. I'll wear mine for the foreseeable, my choice to take care of myself and others. Keep your sign up in your shop and hopefully most people will respect it.

I live in one of the fabled hotspots in Scotland right now.

The number of people in hospital is so low that it doesn't register on the hospital stats and nobody has died with COVID in this rather large, highly populated area for nearly six weeks.

Now I know about infectiousness and how it can all change in an instant, long Covid, etc etc. But we need to get a grip on reality, really.

That was to growstuff’s comment at 11:15, but the quote function didn’t work.

We may “have to live with the virus” but with numbers at present spiralling it seems odd to remove mitigating factors, such as mask wearing, and distancing, without increasing others. For example required ventilation in public places and most importantly in schools. In New York they require all classrooms to have air purifiers. Mitigation doesn’t mean more restrictions or lockdowns. We haven’t done away with seatbelts for example, and that is not considered as curtailing freedom.
We also seem to be emphasising the fact that deaths are low, but ignoring long covid which children and adults can suffer, requiring on going medical support.
It is still very early to know the long term sequela for Covid.

Also, masks cut down transmission but do not completely stop it. The fact that the Delta variant infection rate is rising does not mean that masks are doing nothing: it means they aren’t doing everything. The Delta variant is more infectious than previous versions. Without masks the Delta infection rate would be rising more steeply than it is.

I travel on the trains and tubes in London, wearing the face maks is somewhat patchy - groups of middle aged women on a jolly from out of London laughing among themselves, young couples not wearing them, the odd man who has never worn one. However most do wear them. I noticed on the pictures put out of the flu panic in US I poster said - Wear a mask or go to jail! They were also pretty stern with a TB flare up as well more recently. I am going to continue to wear a face mask - dabbed with iodine until the Deltal virus is contained. If I were the shop keeper I would say no mask no entry full stop.

A lot of people seem to think they are optional now and always have, keep up the notice asking people to wear a mask , you have every right to do so.
The only reason it will not be compulsory is because so many people are demanding all restrictions end now

I think the whole relaxing of restrictions is very unwise especially when the virus rate is 300+ per 100,000 near me!
Hopefully people will continue to be sensible and practice hands, face, space, fresh air. Sadly, I have no faith that they will.

It is madness not wearing a mask in some situations - the pandemic is not over!
Many people in this country are not fortunate enough to live in sparsely populated rural areas. If you live in a city it is completely different, we have to continue to wear masks while the numbers are rising.
I spent seven hours on a train to visit my 95 year old Mum recently when the numbers were low. I felt uncomfortable even though people were wearing masks. I just couldn't get on a train if people were maskless.
In fact I would not feel comfortable going into many other places either.

MaggsMcG

First time I have had to admit that biscuitmuncher has a point. If masks work how come the Delta (Indian) variant is still rising.

Because the rates are rising in schools, where masks aren't mandatory and people are crowded into poorly ventilated spaces. The majority aren't vaccinated. Look at the stats and it's quite obvious what's happening.

Hopefully here in Scotland, we will continue to wear them for some time to come!

TwoWolves,
Why do you think "whoever wears them appears gullible"?
And why are you do worried about what others think anyway?

I would be happy to wear a N99 or FFP3 on a train for example. I don't think you can say they are useless as they are very well tested.
I won't be wearing it on a beach for example as there's no need - but I certainly don't care what others on a train think.

I don't consider myself gullible or demeaned. I've read the test papers on various masks, compared them and made purchases accordingly.

Nannapat I'm always clean-shaven and mine were supplied by a professional. No, they certainly are not very comfortable and they're expensive. That's why I don't wear them very often, but I will if I need to and other people behave selfishly.

First time I have had to admit that biscuitmuncher has a point. If masks work how come the Delta (Indian) variant is still rising.

I shall continue to wear a mask in closed indoor spaces such as shops, public transport and restaurants when I’m not at my table. I shall do this both to protect myself a little but more importantly those around me, especially the staff working indoors all day.
I shall swerve to avoid any non-mask wearers as we all know (but clearly they don’t understand) that the virus is mainly AIRBORNE. The clue’s in the word!
I don’t believe that the Covid virus gives a hoot about my ‘freedom’ or ‘getting back to normal’ - the virus is just hell bent on getting into my system and, if possible, to avoid the effects of the vaccines by mutating into a new variant.
Andrew Marr who was double vaccinated nonetheless felt pretty rough with it. As someone way older than he is and with limited lung capacity I don’t want this nasty disease, not even a little bit if possible. It’s not ‘just flu’. Ever heard of anyone with ‘long flu’?

M0nica

I think there is a balance to made between, some medical advice, not all, and how long you can expect people to keep using masks etc when so many peoplecan see how much things are mproving.

The alternative, if the rules are not changed soon, is many people just ignoring rules - and that is already happening. You can see this about you all the time, especially now two thirds of adults, and rising, have had both jabs.

The political judgement is balancing the risk between the science and mass disobedience. In a democracy, government needs the support of the people and if it wants to be able to re-impose stringent rules like those that still govern us over COVID, they need to know when to drop them because they have become unenforceable. And we have now reached that stage.

I think you’re right here, M0nica. There has to be a balance between what might be ideal and what the population is willing to do.

Boris is not only putting a nail in his own coffin but he is also putting a nail in ours . How does he think this will end , there's only one way and that is badly . Give it 3 months and we will be all Locked up again .

The standard surgical face mask has some value in lowering transmission but isn't the be all and end all. Most establishments I have visited have installed perspex screens at counters to protect staff. Those wanting to wear ffp3 masks please bear in mind that these need to be professionally fitted and worn on a clean shaven face as my dental surgeon DH will testify. Also, they are not very comfortable when worn for long periods he has said!
Overall I think that time has come for masks to be worn in non clinical settings at one's discretion and should not be mandatory after 19 July.

runnerbean

Duty of care to others: we will continue to wear them. Transport should continue to use. Lots of vulnerable still out there and of course, more virus in circulation, more chance of harmful varients arising.

Let's hope the majority continue until more people have been vaccinated.

LADYSMITH54

Unless you wear a PPI grade mask it will not protect you from the virus . An ordinary mask helps to protect those around you from your coughs and sneezes if you have a virus . So it would seem sensible to recommend using a mask if you have signs of infection . This happens in Asia I went to a pharmacy in Vietnam for medication for a sore throat and was issued with a mask to protect others .

FFP2 masks are mandatory in Germany, where incidence rate is a fraction of the UK. I have some and will be wearing them if others really do stop wearing them and I need to use public transport or go somewhere where there are likely to be unmasked people.

Duty of care to others: we will continue to wear them. Transport should continue to use. Lots of vulnerable still out there and of course, more virus in circulation, more chance of harmful varients arising.

twinnytwin

I'm another who can't wait to ditch the masks. I've followed every rule, including not seeing family or friends for months and I'm ready to get on with my life.

My Mum died last year (not Covid) but we'd been unable to visit her or be with her at the end. Ten people at her funeral.

Most people are double jabbed so the risk of death or serious illness is unlikely. We're told that we now will be able to take personal responsibility for our decisions and I will be happy to do that.

So take personal responsibility and wear a mask! It's not as though they're stopping you from doing anything you want to do - apart from eating, drinking and kissing, of course.

I think stopping compulsory masks in shops and public transport is a crazy idea and so selfish for those who are scared to go out unless others protect them. When I visited the UK recently there already seemed to be people who were ‘exempt’, not something one sees here in France

I'm another who can't wait to ditch the masks. I've followed every rule, including not seeing family or friends for months and I'm ready to get on with my life.

My Mum died last year (not Covid) but we'd been unable to visit her or be with her at the end. Ten people at her funeral.

Most people are double jabbed so the risk of death or serious illness is unlikely. We're told that we now will be able to take personal responsibility for our decisions and I will be happy to do that.

Well if you continue to wear your mask then you are protected but unfortunately you can’t tell ppl what to do as it’s not law. Otherwise you could find yourself in hot water. I will continue to wear mine in shops etc but I’m vulnerable so I have to be careful. I personally feel we should continue to wear them in shops, on trains buses etc, because without it’s going to make ppl like myself more vulnerable.