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

@chattykathy Sorry, I meant my comment at 11:58 today.

So, a theory, if face masks work , why are numbers rising. A cloth mask, taken on and off, put in your pocket for days on end, not very hygienic, unless you wash it as soon as you get home after one outing with it. Paper masks, discarded anywhere but in a bin. I have worn a mask, not until about two months after this started, gaily wandering about the supermarket, cafe and shops in the first instance, am asthmatic also, after encouragement from SAGE, but have always been careful re hands face space. three grown up DC, all working front line public services , one Grandson, also front line worker, compromised with Asthma, two GC at school. No covid , thank goodness, and only two episodes of self isolation among them. Two reports one from Oxford says masks do protect to certain extent, and one fromDenmark which says they don’t. www.ox.ac.uk/news/2020-07-08-oxford-covid-19-study-face-masks-and-coverings-work-act-now/
www.spectator.co.uk/article/do-masks-stop-the-spread-of-covid-19-
Is it any wonder we are confused, think hands face space has more of an impact, working in the NHS and having to wear a mask working in isolation , with a non aerosol spread infection, hand washing was the most important. I wonder how many really adhere to that?
Garble over.

nipsmum

As a personal opinion, I think it's time to make them optional. Life is full of risks. Masks have been optional all our lives. We didn't feel the need to wear them before. Germs and viruses have always been with us. They have always been dangerous to people. I trained for 2 years as an Infectious Diseases nurse. Antibiotics and vaccinations have helped a huge amount over many years. Yes masks should be optional until we all learn to go back to normal. Whatever you are comfortable with is fine now.

So, as a nurse did you wear masks to protect others?And shouldn’t people continue to wear masks to do the same now? I don’t understand your logic.

I for one will still be wearing my masks in supermarkets and shops even after Boris ‘allows’ us to stop.

Coastalgran good point. I still cringe at the pre-Covid memory of people putting a hand over their mouth when coughing, then picking up and replacing food I was planning to buy.
If you want to wear a mask in certain places, past July 19th, go ahead. I will wear one where I choose, and as I’ve mentioned before, I’ll be watching to see whether lanyards disappear.

I can't wait to get rid of face masks. Since it became compulsory I have had 6-7 eye infections. I have yet another at the moment and don't usually suffer from them. I will probably wear one in busy areas but we do need to get back to normality especially for the good of our children who have been born in the last 18-24 months.

Whatever decision is made regarding masks (or anything else) will come in for criticism. I shall continue to wear my mask when going to the newsagents or supermarket - haven’t ventured to any other shops yet.

I’m hoping that most people will continue as before - except of course football supporters!

I live in a country where wearing face masks has always been optional, yesterday I was surprised when going into Specsavers here,you had to hand sanitise then take a face mask from an individualy wrapped plastic bag.This is the first time I have seen this otherwise not many people have ever used face masks here ,snag is we seem to be in the Amber group and never getting out of it!

I think face masks should be mandatary for a while longer.We have got used to them,and I know I feel safer wearing one.The virus isn't suddenly going to go away in 2 weeks time.It 's too soon to lift all restrictions yet,we have a lot more freedom than we had,let's just enjoy that,but feel safe.A lot of us will feel anxious about going out.

I don't mind wearing a visor so will continue with it till I decide when to stop (probably around October}

Interesting I am in Jersey as I put on another thread Masks are no longer required here apart from public transport Have easily gone back to not wearing one Here you see the odd person wearing one but they are in the minority

I’ll keep a mask with me and may still wear it on public transport however I do have a mild lung condition and will be very happy not to have to wear one.

Any establishment shop pub hotel etc have the right to refuse either entry or to serve anyone they choose for any-or no-reason. Your establishment your rules. I'd have a polite notice asking customers to use a mask if they have one but if you're so scared, maybe the shop is not the environment for you? If you've had your jabs you're going to be ok anyway. If anyone is being objectionable you also can ask them to leave!

PS . I also think masks on public transport is a good idea specially in rush hour when everywhere can get so rammed!

The wearing of masks protects people from not just Covid but from other airborne viruses. I'm someone who falls prey to a virus every time I get on a plane. One year my OH gave me one of his work masks for a flight to Puglia. I started to wear it but (foolishly) felt stupid so took it off. I spent the next 3 days hotel bound whilst he went off on his own. I shall certainly wear a mask on any form of public transport, mandatory or not.

I think that wearing of masks indoors in public places should be mandatory. This was discussed on James O'Brien's programme this morning. One lady explained how she had a rare lung complaint and had to use oxygen all the time. She had spent 600 days isolating. She was in tears. The other extreme was a young man who thought people should be able to go to night clubs without a mask. He had no thoughts about the staff in the clubs. Most people who contacted the programme were in favour of compulsory mask wearing.

CleoPanda

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.

‘You MAY become seriously ill’ after being double vaccinated.

It’s not just ‘may’ - the risk is far lower than if you are not vaccinated, especially if you don’t have other health conditions.

The risk of children becoming seriously ill is also very low.

There needs to be a balance between risk and the unpleasantness of wearing a mask. I’m not sure the current risks justify making everyone wear them, especially as the public may not continue to be willing to comply.

We have the highly infectious Delta variant and increasing infection rates - yet we're easing restrictions at a time when Russia are imposing more.

It just doesn't make sense until we take the economy into account. Of course, we can't keep restrictions much longer but masks aren't much trouble.

I think the legislation on them should continue. Why rely on others being responsible?

www.ft.com/content/f3d709e6-2285-4bea-a4e6-e35676813ca3

If you wear a mask yourself & maybe cotton gloves at least you are keeping yourself as safe as possible around people who have decided they will no longer wear a mask when it becomes optional

The sad thing about these discussions on Covid seems to me to be every man/woman for themselves. What about joint responsibility to our communities? To the medically vulnerable, the poor living in overcrowded towns and cities, those in shops, offices and working face to face with the public, for example. Those who cannot afford to stay at home when testing positive? We are not all in the same position with regard to Covid risk, and often depend on others to keep us safe.

Share of people vaccinated in the UK: nearly 70%

Share of people vaccinated in Russia: 15%

Santana and everyone else who hopes for a return to normal life. There will be no return to normal life as we knew it before the pandemic.

Missedout A few years ago some friends came to stay with us from the States. They used a range of precautions whilst travelling. Wiping the backs of the seat in front of them on the plane etc. Even the extreme of wiping the cutlery when we went into a restaurant. They had no compunction about doing this and it may be something that we will need to do in future.

It's certainly not cowardly to continue to wear a mask and many more of us may continue to do so. Anybody who ridicules you is an idiot. (Expletives omitted)

Alegrias1

Share of people vaccinated in the UK: nearly 70%

Share of people vaccinated in Russia: 15%

Good point.

Well, you're cheery.

Alegrias1

Well, you're cheery.

(Dinahmo, obviously)