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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

My fear is that it will be those very people who refuse to get vaccinated will be the first the ditch the mask, if they have been wearing one at all. They do not understand the reality of covid and just cannot take it on board. Like most people I dislike wearing a mask, however I would hate to think I might have passed it on unwittingly just because I don't like wearing a mask. That would be unforgivable

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

I personally think that we should continue wearing face masks and I will be definitely wearing mine. I really think it's idiotic not to keep this rule for the next few months as we get back to a more normal way of life and begin mixing, just to give us protection until we see how it all pans out. It just seems stupid to remove all barriers and I don't think it's a big deal to pop one on when entering a shop.
A polite notice on your door and disposable pack for folk should do the trick. Good luck with it all.

I think we should be obliged to wear masks in view of the fact that the Delta variant of Covid is more transmissable and current vaccines less effective against it. I will definitely continue wearing a mask in shops etc. It's a no brainer in my opinion.

Gosh, so much rubbish is being spouted online- everywhere I look.
I have several relatives working in hospitals and I’m taking their advice. One, in particular, is working with Covid patients.
Mask wearing is strongly recommended, mainly to stop you unknowingly passing on the virus.
It may offer you some small protection.
Double vaccinations DO NOT prevent you from catching or passing on the virus.
You may still get the virus but MAY not be seriously ill. However you MAY become seriously ill and need to be hospitalised. My relative currently has 3 seriously ill patients who have been double vaccinated.
The Delta variant is highly transmissible- 60% higher than the first cases. You are much more likely to catch or pass on this variant.
Children do get the virus and can become seriously ill.
Long Covid is very real and distressing.
Many people have recovered from mild symptoms, only to suffer from later recurring bouts of more serious symptoms.
In conclusion, mask wearing for everyone should be the norm and the scrupulous hygiene and social distancing indoors should be continued.
Everybody hates wearing masks but we need to!
My medical relatives think that any sane human being would realise this!!
PS. I had Covid early in 2020 and wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy or even on the stupid, selfish anti maskers/anti Vader’s.

It is well known that wearing of masks and washing hands more stopped flu this past Winter. For this reason alone I think masks are a good idea. I will continue to use one. I would suggest that the original poster continues wearing a mask to protect herself. She can also continue to provide hand sanitizer.

Anti vaxers - nothing to do with Darth Vader. At least I don’t think so!

Today Boris will let us know the restrictions being lifted for 19th July. It has been hinted that the wearing of masks and social distancing will go and that people will take responsibility for themselves. I have heard it said on at least a dozen programmes that once we make the moves on 19th July there will be no RETURN to previous times or lockdowns. The population must now learn to live with Covid and while we shall still hear of deaths it will be nothing like we have seen so far. The time is right for the country to get back to some sort of normality which must happen sooner or later.

Why am I feeling not that convinced with what the government are saying, and to me masks have become a way of life also social distancing use of hand sanitizer in shops and most other precautions.

I won't be using shops where mask wearing is optional, any more than I do now. I'm saddened by the numbers of people who have purchased sunflower lanyards, these lanyards were here before Covid and were a sign to shops that the wearer might need assistance as I have in the past. Now they are worn by some who have genuine reasons for not wearing masks, as well as a majority of wearers who CHOOSE not to wear them. Staff are not able to challenge their status by law.

I joined Slimming World and I was in the minority wearing a mask, others were wearing lanyards (n o t even the genuine ones), & joking about their not needing masks because they have a lanyard. Every member of that group is obese, many are also diabetic so in the at risk group. I didn't last long there as having been shielding until April, even with both vaccines I didn't feel safe.

It must be really difficult for shop owners in deciding on the rules relating to mask wearing going forth, I'm guessing that the fear is potentially losing their customer base, but whatever they decide it is their decision once the law changes.

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Marthjolly1 you’ve hit the nail on the head I think. Our consciences will drive some of us to continue to wear masks to protect others, and to some extent ourselves.

If there is no mitigation, the infection rate will continue to rise, exacerbated by people not wearing masks, so the 15%ish of adults who are unvaccinated and those who are knowingly or unknowingly immune compromised will catch the virus. A large number of deniers (and immune compromised) will die or get long covid, which is the price the government has decided will be paid. It won’t be hundreds of thousands of deaths, but it will be thousands.

Agree with Happiyogi, can't abide these people that come on the buses with a mask on covering their mouth and not their nose, what's that about?, Others come on wearing a mask then take it off.

You’re wrong Athenia masks do protect you and other people. All the evidence is there - I suspect the scientists know more than you do on this?