Covid becoming just another bug

Biscuitmuncher

Lucca some bloke called Chris Whitty said masks served no purpose. I don't know if he's on Facebook

I agree he did initially. However that advice was changed quickly
I found this article very easy to read and full of common sense.
www.newstatesman.com/politics/health/2020/09/what-we-should-learn-face-mask-u-turn

Lockdowns should be a last resort if all else fails. In order to make sure the country doesn't have a lockdown imposed, mitigations (mask wearing, vaccinations, testing, social distancing, etc) have to be effective.

songstress In August the unemployment rate was less than 1% higher than before the pandemic. www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/employmentandemployeetypes/bulletins/employmentintheuk/august2021

I know that there are employment blackspots, but overall, thanks to government policy (and I am NOT a Comservative voter or supporter) employment has held up.

Elsewhere on GN there has been an extensive discussion about the shortage of lorry drivers and we know that farming, hospitality and the care sector are facing problems from a shortage of workers. Retail is struggling bcause of the accelerated change in shopping habits, but some industries decline as others rise and so it has always been. Seen any candlestick makers recently?

DD started a new job at the beginning of August and was job hunting May - July. She was overwhelmed by job offers.

The vaccine is here so let's enjoy our freedom. We have had far too many lockdowns, and I am glad everything is back to normal. Lockdowns are bad for the economy. Just look at the people who are thrown out of work. The unemployment now is terrible.

Chris Whitty is very much pro-mask "to protect other people".

www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMHnC0GbvbY

chrissy08

Biscuitmuncher

All you mask lovers, what good did they actually do?

None at all.
Been proved that wearing a mask is detrimental to health but no proof they prevent any infections.

That's nonsense!

I do hope there won't be a backlash against wearing masks by the anti-mask, free-will brigade. Because I want to go on wearing one whenever I feel happier in one or for others' sake.

We need to start thinking of it as an everday thing, like in Japan. I don't want to be made to feel awkward about doing something I think is for the common good.

I have to consider both myself, an asthmatic, and my elderly mother who I live with. We've both been double vaxxed but who knows how bad even a milder case of covid could be to either of us.

None of this mess is years ago is it

Did he say that recently Biscuitmuncher ?

Lucca some bloke called Chris Whitty said masks served no purpose. I don't know if he's on Facebook

I was talking generally Lucca

I sympathise Biscuitmuncher and haven't been able to wear a mask either.

rosie1959

If I remember correctly Lucca none wore masks early last year we were told it was not necessary and of no benefit

Pretty I did as soon as lockdown started. A friend made two for me.

When you see televised programs showing health care providers wearing masks, I doubt it is a fashion statement or to appear like they are providers. Maybe they know masks can limit exposure for others. Surgical teams wear masks not for themselves, but for a patient they are caring for. If my mask can limit my droplet exposure to you, consider it a gift freely given.

Biscuitmuncher

cupcake1 I find it very hard to wear a mask. As soon as I put it on I start to panic, I'm soaked in sweat, I struggle to breathe. And I loose all coordination. And all that for something I was told at the beginning made no difference

You are right that initially we were told not to bother but later there were lots of studies done that proved this to be wrong. You can find any number of papers on Google Scholar.

I'm truly sorry you feel panic and fear in a mask and are afraid of wearing one. This is a much better reason to be reluctant to wear one than not believing the science!

If you need to wear one in future I would "train up" at home, 1 minute, 2 minutes, 3 minutes say, whilst listening to soothing music and relaxing. And buy a decent one that fits comfortably and nicely.
Good luck.

Biscuitmuncher Yes, we were told masks weren't necessary at the start, but it was blindingly obvious at the time that the reason they said that was to stop people buying masks that were desperately needed for health workers.

That is why I made my own masks and wore them from day one - and vinyl disposable gloves as well.

COVID was a new and unknown disease and as the pandemic progressed it became clear that the main means of transmission was aerosol spray breathed out by infected people and breathed in by uninfected people, who then caught the disease. The advice was then changed and we were all told to wear to wear masks. However it became clear that transmission by touch was very rare and, like others, I dispensed with the gloves.

While I sympathise with the problems you have wearing a mask. I am farly hardline and I believe that if you cannot wear a mask, you should not go into a public enclosed space. Obviously now the rules have relaxed that does not apply,

We have just come back from a visit to France where masks in public enclosed spaces are still mandatory. My DH has breathing problems that make mask wearing impractical so he just didn't go into shops, I shopped alone and we limited the places we visited to outdoor locations where masks were not required. He managed to wear one for the short walk from restaurant entrance to table and back, but we tried where possible to eat outside.

All of us, at some time or another have to restrict our activities to protect our health. A member of my family has severe food allergies triggered by an autoimmune disease. She has to avoid several major food groups, that I love. When she comes to stay I make sure that I have none of the foods in the house and do not serve them. It is a small price to pay for her health. This pandemic is a similar circumstance writ world wide.

Granny1London Face shields are about as much use as a chocolate teapot. The aerosol infecton just drifts in round the sides and under the gap round the chin. You might as well just clutch a lucky four leaved clover.

Unfortunately Perspex face shields are not as effective as masks.

Lucca

Even if that were true the advice clearly changed .

Think it’s definitely true the advice on masks was changed 11th May 2020

“ If I could teach wearing a mask, FFS, surely those who don't like them can manage to keep one on in the supermarket.”

Absolutely. Such a childish fuss.

Even if that were true the advice clearly changed .

If I remember correctly Lucca none wore masks early last year we were told it was not necessary and of no benefit

Lizzy60

I avoid people , simple as , apart from family ! 18 months of government brainwashing has taken its toll . I've had my jabs , don't want another , will take my chance for the timebeing !

Same here Lizzy. The difference between avoidance and masks is I don't assume everyone else HAS to avoid others. But I do think everyone else HAS to (or ought to, since I'm not a lawmaker) wear masks.

Mask wearing is a little thing. For some, avoiding all others is too hard, so fair enough, that isn't manageable long term. If I could teach wearing a mask, FFS, surely those who don't like them can manage to keep one on in the supermarket.

Biscuitmuncher

cupcake1 I find it very hard to wear a mask. As soon as I put it on I start to panic, I'm soaked in sweat, I struggle to breathe. And I loose all coordination. And all that for something I was told at the beginning made no difference

Who said it made no difference ? Someone on Facebook ?

Government brainwashing. FGS … add that one to the list Monica.