Are you still wearing a face mask?

I'm still wearing masks on public transport and in small shops.

Out and about on tube and buses - I'd say about 80% compliance with more men than women maskless.

I've been to the theatre a few times recently - many people in the crowded foyers wearing masks but inside the auditorium about 20% in masks. At the Royal Court it looked like 100% in masks as there was a reminder to do so, and it's quite a small theatre.

I've never worn one outdoors except when going from shop to shop, or shop onto bus - it takes two hands to put on the mask so it's easier to just leave it on.

Still wearing mine and will continue to do so.
I accept that I could still catch Covid despite the mask, but at the very least it might protect me from catching seasonal colds and Flu. My resistance to colds and flu is probably reduced now because of not mixing and socialising for nearly two years so I'm more likely to catch them. And if thousands of us succumb to flu this winter that will put an added strain on the medical services.

I'm asthmatic and find it quite hard to breathe while wearing a mask especially when I'm walking, but I still wear it. I think masks should be mandatory in all public places both indoors and outside. Mask wearing has become a way of life for people in many Asian countries because of air pollution, if they can do it so can we.

I dare say businesses will be coming up with their own rules, based on what they see as their core demographic.

A sports bar in Chelmsford, decked out in England flags? My feeling is it won't require masks. A vegan cafe in Islington or Bristol? You will have to wrap up your face before ordering that soyamilk fair trade latte.

I think masks should be mandatory in all public places both indoors and outside. Mask wearing has become a way of life for people in many Asian countries because of air pollution, if they can do it so can we

NOOO‼️ Outside??? Never. Good grief.

Urmstongran

I dare say businesses will be coming up with their own rules, based on what they see as their core demographic.

A sports bar in Chelmsford, decked out in England flags? My feeling is it won't require masks. A vegan cafe in Islington or Bristol? You will have to wrap up your face before ordering that soyamilk fair trade latte.

You really are very discriminatory, aren't you?

I hope you're not suggesting that proud English people in Chelmsford are unthinking idiots who don't care about others' health.

Cause if I said that I'd get flamed, and quite rightly.

Prof Openshaw states we have to take matters in our own hands ...don't wait for Gov policy...he believes 1 in 60people in a crowded space will have the virus so to all the non wearing mask people, wear a visor!

I'd be more inclined to believe Prof Openshaw's predictions if he wasn't overestimating the daily deaths by about 50%.

Agree with you TwoWolves

Why does it have to be such a big deal? Just wear the b——y things when & where it is, necessary , prudent, & obvious.
I am surprised nobody has yet suggested that we don’t require sanitary wear !

Alegrias1

Urmstongran

I dare say businesses will be coming up with their own rules, based on what they see as their core demographic.

A sports bar in Chelmsford, decked out in England flags? My feeling is it won't require masks. A vegan cafe in Islington or Bristol? You will have to wrap up your face before ordering that soyamilk fair trade latte.

You really are very discriminatory, aren't you?

I hope you're not suggesting that proud English people in Chelmsford are unthinking idiots who don't care about others' health.

Cause if I said that I'd get flamed, and quite rightly.

Why Chelmsford? I don't even think Chelmsford is that well-known for sports bars. However, I know somewhere you can buy a fair trade latte.

Alegrias1

I'd be more inclined to believe Prof Openshaw's predictions if he wasn't overestimating the daily deaths by about 50%.

What predictions has he made? Nobody knows with any certainty how many daily deaths there will be in the future. He's right about the current number of cases.

Alegrias1

Urmstongran

I dare say businesses will be coming up with their own rules, based on what they see as their core demographic.

A sports bar in Chelmsford, decked out in England flags? My feeling is it won't require masks. A vegan cafe in Islington or Bristol? You will have to wrap up your face before ordering that soyamilk fair trade latte.

You really are very discriminatory, aren't you?

I hope you're not suggesting that proud English people in Chelmsford are unthinking idiots who don't care about others' health.

Cause if I said that I'd get flamed, and quite rightly.

I think she's claiming sports fans are thick and selfish.

Lockdown Christmas.

Its one of my bugbears growstuff.

He said that on one of the days last week there had been 180 deaths. Of course that wasn't correct because the 180 was the reported number of deaths. He didn't say that on the day before there had been 28 deaths.

I'm not saying that the numbers are not too high, and the 28 was just the reported number as well, but its not nearly such a scary number. I don't think that people in positions of influence should be "bending" the figures to support their viewpoints, because then you don't know whether to believe them or not. Or even worse, does he not know how to interpret the figures?

uk.news.yahoo.com/covid-19-government-adviser-fearful-085743094.html

I confess I hadn't heard of him until reading this thread and I hadn't a clue what he had said.

It could very well be that on a certain day there were 180 deaths, just that they weren't reported on the same day. You know as well as I do that there's a reporting lag. I haven't got the figures comparing when they happened and when they were reported to hand, so I can't check (and I can't be bothered looking for them).

The current 7 day average number of deaths is 135 a day and rising. Today's total reported deaths is 180 (by coincidence).

Quite honestly, I'm not that bothered when the deaths are reported. I'm more concerned that they're happening and he's absolutely right to highlight that they are too high.

It seems the high number of deaths has been normalised. If this is what "living with Covid" is about, it's a disgrace.

The point is that cases, hospitalisations and deaths are all showing an upward trend and will probably continue to do so, unless there are some measures put in place.

I think it’s obscene arguing that certain figures may or not be totally accurate given that each on is a lost loved one. The fact is the figure is rising and it is being normalised by the government.

MayBee70

I think it’s obscene arguing that certain figures may or not be totally accurate given that each on is a lost loved one. The fact is the figure is rising and it is being normalised by the government.

I'm in quite a bad mood given what I've just been accused of on another post, so excuse me if I'm a bit short tempered.

It matters because things are bad enough without yet another person we've never heard of spouting big numbers to scare people. I complained to my local TV station about the way they were presenting the data and they changed it, because exaggerated data frightens people and misrepresents the situation.

Just saying "well its a big number so it doesn't matter" doesn't cut it, by the way.

Oh, and growstuff - today's figures haven't been released yet, 180 was yesterday. I like things to be accurate and correct. Make of that what you will.

Well, I’m still annoyed that you find my comment that things are out of control is wrong. Can you tell me when your facts and figures will actually reach the same conclusion. Or how many people have to die before you do so? Sometimes it’s more about gut feelings and human lives than statistics. imo

Well, I’m still annoyed that you find my comment that things are out of control is wrong.

We're holding grudges and dredging things up from other threads today, are we?

I wear one if I have to or if I am forced to be nearer to others than I would wish but I truly hate the things. They are a symbol of authoritarianism when not clinically essential. Of course during a pandemic they have a place but continued use when most are double jabbed and are complying with other hygiene conditions and distancing is a chilling imposition.

I for one admire your attention to detail Alegrias. Always have actually. Accurate = trustworthy.

Urmstongran

I for one admire your attention to detail Alegrias. Always have actually. Accurate = trustworthy.

Hear hear.

They are a symbol of authoritarianism when not clinically essential

Oh please.

A symbol of authoritarianism? Which conspiracy site did you read that on?