Are you still wearing a face mask?

i haven't stopped wearing one, inside and outside, i still think it's too much of a risk

I have continued to wear one to help protect others and hope that it might encourage others to wear masks. Unfortunately few public figures, including our politicians, are wearing them even in enclosed busy spaces such the Houses if Parliament or even at the church service fir Sur David Amiss.

I wear a face covering in shops and on the rare occasions that I use public transport. On the tram yesterday, I gauge (cos I didn't do a head count) only about 15% of travellers were wearing masks. I made sure I sat by a door which are opening and closing all the time. Fingers crossed, eh!

YES. I live in Scotland and we still have to wear them and I'm glad to be doing so. I still wore mine when I was in England, felt safer. I do think that it was the wrong decision to drop the mask wearing rule.
Don't know if a mask is very protective, but I feel better to at least try to keep Covid at bay along with vaccinations.

teresa may and jeremy hunt are almost the only ones still wearing a mask

I wear N95 facemasks in shops. I tried a disposable surgical mask, but I could still smell car fumes and people's perfume. The N95 facemask cuts these smells out completely for me, and I feel safer.

TwoWolves: maybe you're still here in spite of your refusal to wear a mask, not because of it! Wearing a mask (unless you're clinically vulnerable) certainly won't do any harm, and may well do some good in helping to protect others. It's a small thing to ask, surely?

Where I am in Australia we have been very lucky with covid. There have only been two occasions where mask wearing was compulsory, both times I complied with the rules. If it becomes necessary I will do so again, why? Because it’s not about me, it’s about keeping everyone as safe as possible.

heatherjw

I have continued to wear one to help protect others and hope that it might encourage others to wear masks. Unfortunately few public figures, including our politicians, are wearing them even in enclosed busy spaces such the Houses if Parliament or even at the church service fir Sur David Amiss.

The opposition parties wear masks in parliament. It’s only the government that make a point of not wearing them even though the Health Secretary says masks should be worn in crowded places.

Wear one in supermarket, restaurant, train, bus , busy venues! Feel safer wearing one ! Was in Edinburgh a couple of weeks ago and felt much safer there due to mandatory masks !
Partner’s youngest son just dropped in , refuses to get vaccinated , says he is not a follower, no mask in the house despite us both being older 65+ ! So I left the house and disinfected everywhere he could have been when I got home ! Not happy about it and his lack of responsibility ! It is causing issues between us ?‍♀️?
I felt safer with distancing, sanitising and mask wearing ! I fear a hard winter ?

Parky

Well said GrannyRose15. Here barely anyone wears a mask. Does anyone know what the percentage of people are dying from covid as opposed to with covid. So many deaths reported are of people having underlying conditions.

IMHO individuals should protect themselves, not expect others to do so.

Hmm - interesting question Parky.

If a person contracts Covid and it exacerbates their underlying condition, is that a death from Covid, or the worsened underlying condition?

If that person had not contracted Covid then perhaps their condition may not have worsened.

On balance it seems to me that Covid was the indirect cause of death.

heatherjw

I have continued to wear one to help protect others and hope that it might encourage others to wear masks. Unfortunately few public figures, including our politicians, are wearing them even in enclosed busy spaces such the Houses if Parliament or even at the church service fir Sur David Amiss.

It seems to me that many of our public figures are very poor at showing leadership, or setting examples.

How high a ceiling does the House of Commons have? Lords too? High ceilings mean there is better ventilation than low ones, or at least more air to share. I'd be interested in the rate of intake of fresh air too.

Urmstongran - "The UK was ahead of the EU with the initial vaccination programme"

I don't think you can draw a direct connection there to suggest Germany's surge is lagging behind the UK. There are other, mitigating factors in many countries that have continued to retain additional actions - mask wearing and social distancing for longer, etc.

In a column in the paper today, Prof. Devi Sridar compared the UK and other states approach as being similar to the old tortoise versus the hare race. You are absolutely right about the need for a 3rd booster does though - it's just a pity it is a bit chaotic in its roll out.

Baggs

How high a ceiling does the House of Commons have? Lords too? High ceilings mean there is better ventilation than low ones, or at least more air to share. I'd be interested in the rate of intake of fresh air too.

Yes - and if they'd implemented a UV-C filtration system it would have provided even more protection perhaps.

Our parliamentary facilities are abysmally old - both in process and in their facilities. Fancy not having the ability to cast a vote in a debate by simply pressing a button.

The UK can hardly claim to be 'world leading' in this area.

Second nature to me now.

Rats because we are all protecting you!

Thankfully I am in Scotland where mask wearing is mandatory Too many selfish self centered folk around for it to be voluntary

That’s because we are all protecting you

Never stopped wearing a mask in shops and other enclosed spaces, and hand sanitising/washing wherever necessary. I cannot afford to be ill right now from Covid or even a cold or flu. Some masks work better than others. Being uncomfortable when in close contact with strangers I really miss social distancing ( by others). Ahh the heady days of everyone in a mask 2 Alsatians apart (thanks to Janey Godley) and no need to smile when out, with our wild uncut, undyed hair in our tracky bottoms… I do seem to have been (unconsciously) hoarding toilet rolls - got enough for at least 6 months. Take care everyone.

I totally agree with TwoWolves

Two Wolves, epidemiologists try to compare like with like. I think it is a stretch to extrapolate from Norway, which is a large country with a very small population ( that of Inner London) and very few cities, anything we could apply to Britain.

I think the thing is TwoWolves, you don't wear them to protect yourself, you wear them to protect others. A very unfashionable concept I know. Also, again, very unfashionable, the science indicates they do work, but only if we all wear them. Obvs.

Yes. Whenever I go to the shops or other crowded indoor settings. I tend to wear FFP3 masks because so many other shoppers aren’t bothered now. I have observed people coughing and sneezing without using a tissue or into their elbow. Yuk

Yes, of course.