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

MayBee70

What’s an elementary occupation?

Elementary occupations

Occupations classified at this level will usually require a minimum general level of education (that is, that which is acquired by the end of the period of compulsory education). Some occupations at this level will also have short periods of work-related training in areas such as health and safety, food hygiene, and customer service requirements.

There more details here:

www.ons.gov.uk/methodology/classificationsandstandards/standardoccupationalclassificationsoc/soc2010/soc2010volume2thestructureandcodingindex

Missedout, I judge no one who chooses to wear a mask, even if it's not required. I just assume they have their own reasons. You do what you need to do. Hopefully a good treatment will exist for Covid soon, so you can be reassured by that.

CafeAuLait

Missedout, I judge no one who chooses to wear a mask, even if it's not required. I just assume they have their own reasons. You do what you need to do. Hopefully a good treatment will exist for Covid soon, so you can be reassured by that.

Meanwhile, the best treatment for Covid is not to catch it.

And the less people being treated for covid the more people that can be treated for other conditions.

We have to wear them in shopping centres and on public transport but not outdoors just now. Massive fines if not so everyone does, basically. I don’t mind. Where we live there are zero cases just now except for those coming in from overseas who are all in hotel quarantine. We are severely reducing the numbers flying in because most have not been vaccinated here. You wouldn’t want our government for quids.

nanna8

We have to wear them in shopping centres and on public transport but not outdoors just now. Massive fines if not so everyone does, basically. I don’t mind. Where we live there are zero cases just now except for those coming in from overseas who are all in hotel quarantine. We are severely reducing the numbers flying in because most have not been vaccinated here. You wouldn’t want our government for quids.

Isn't the fine only $200 for not wearing a mask?

I live in a rural area, but travel for shopping and seeing family too. I will be continuing to wear a fresh mask everyday until I feel the variants have stopped taking hold. My choice, not interested in others view that I can stop wearing one

User7777, why would anyone care if you choose to wear a mask? It doesn't affect anyone else. I can't understand why anyone would care if you are wearing one if they choose not to.

Bossyrossy What do you consider a high level of vaccination. Over 80% of the population have had the first jab and wellover 60% the second jab and that figure is rising fast. Someone who has had both vaccinations is no danger to anyone else, nor themselves, You are far more likely to pick up a cold, flu, or cough from them than COVID.

Continuing to wear masks, when it is not necessary, is playing into the hands of the Antivaxxers and conspiracy theory activists who believe that COVID is a devious plan by government to chip away at our freedoms and by ramping up our fear to induce a permanent feeling of fear in us so that governments can manipulate us.

By returning to normal life, with its minimal risk of COVID we are are thwarting these strange beliefs.

I think you just need to read some of the comments to see that some people do care. Talk about living in fear, about not being compliant, it's really clear that people do care about others mask wearing.

growstuff

I have a box of FFP3 masks, which I shall be wearing if most people give up wearing masks. Up to now, I haven't used them because they're expensive and I've felt comfortable wearing washable ones with filters, which reduce transmission from me to others. However, if most people aren't bothering to stop themselves transmitting infection, I feel I need to protect myself better, which is what FFP3 masks do. Incidentally, FFP3 masks are standard in Germany.

This is exactly what my daughter suggested. We agree growstuff and with redsmudgy it’s a simple thing to do now we are used to them so I will feel where is the care and consideration for others if people just stop. On the other hand it will definitely make me spend less. Is this really what the government want or are they trying to make it a case of well you chose to be the guinea pigs in this next stage.

Good point MayBee70
Probably!

I just hope they decide to keep them on public transport.
I think that's when you are basically stuck with a bunch of others.

YAAAAAY - this couldn't come too soon for me. Disgusting, demeaning and USELESS items.

I can feel a facemask burning party coming on.

TwoWolves
I think you are feeding one wolf too much!
I don't like them but how can a mask be demeaning?


Don't let an inanimate object get to you in this way!

Being very frightened of Needles is causing me to think too far ahead into the autumn when we’re being offered flu jabs and another Covid jab. Ive had three jabs already this year including shingles and the thought of more jabs does my head in can anyone put my fears to the side? I’ll be wearing Masks when in a crowd and in shops just like the Japanese have been doing for years.

M0nica, I would consider 80% of the population double vaccinated to be a clear indication that we would be safe to withdraw restrictions, so we wouldn’t have too long to wait. My concern is that the change in mask wearing rules is a bit too soon. I am not an expert, so what I think is neither here nor there, but I think we should be guided by science, not politics.

Elizabeth1

Being very frightened of Needles is causing me to think too far ahead into the autumn when we’re being offered flu jabs and another Covid jab. Ive had three jabs already this year including shingles and the thought of more jabs does my head in can anyone put my fears to the side? I’ll be wearing Masks when in a crowd and in shops just like the Japanese have been doing for years.

Think “Is this the worse thing that can happen to me?”

Of course it isn’t! Hopefully that helps. It’s the way I deal with stuff. Even told I had cancer I was able to console myself that at least my children weren’t starving to death.

No i don`t think it`s a good idea,weve came this far so why risk yet another covid breakout.
We still have this new variant to deal with for heavens sake.

Elizabeth, I don't know if this helps but there are clinical trials for the vaccine to be administered in tablet/capsule form or dissolvable tablet, so hopefully these injections may not go on for the foreseeable future anyway. I wonder if anywhere is doing CBT type exercises on needles, as you can't be alone in this fear

I suspect the government hoped this decision would help them retain their popularity. I don't object to wearing a mask and will probably continue to do so because I want to feel safe.

I shall continue to wear a mask when travelling on a bus or train. I think it should be compulsory on buses where you are closer to people.

Everyone is still wearing masks, right? So why is the Delta variant on the rise? Because masks do nothing!!!!!

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 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.