Covid protection

I've been wondering about that, too, recently.

In the early days some reports suggested that having a damp mask on your face would make you more at risk.

I feel that any face shield available should be for people like key workers who are more at risk.
Of course there is nothing to stop you, but do you consider yourself to be at particular risk or are you getting paranoid?

I believe masks offer some protection. They also stop you touching your face. Much, much better if everyone wears them but there will always be selfish people around.

I've seen people wearing masks while alone in their cars. What is the point of that?

ladymuck - They are probably care workers who only have a very limited allocation from their employers. they are advised to wear each mask for several care visits. If the employers are more caring towards their staff they provide a new mask fr each call.

All the people I've seen wearing them in cars have been old ( that's the people, not the masks) ?

When I use public transport, I stick to the mandatory requirement to wear a mask.

When there are others on there who aren't wearing them, I've been thinking at least I've a little protection.

Then one day I thought "what if it's putting me, the rule follower at more risk?"

Why or why don't they make such a simple step compulsory? Masks on public transport or no public transport, masks in shops or no shops!

Well I am over 80 but not specially at risk though. Are the shields scarce? I haven't looked into buying one, but no - I wouldn't want to buy one if they're in short supply and thus prevent a care worker having one.
But like Miss Adventure, I look around I see all the selfish people on public in the supermarkets and small shops, without any face covering, uncaring as to whether they might be infectious, and there I am (who hasn't been out of the house till last week, wearing a mask protecting them ...... but if the mask doesn't protect me why am I bothering?
(they are uncomfortable I agree, these nurses and carers are heroes).
Hence the question (I hadn't realised professionals didn't have enough. I see staff at Lakeland Ltd have them.

It’s my understanding that a mask is relevant only when you cough or sneeze and likely to project your breath and bodily discharges forcibly into the distance. That’s why they’re recommended on public transport and if very close to someone. Personally I wouldn’t recommend a face shield. It’s important to have regular contact with the ‘outside’ world when possible so that we can build up our natural immunity...not just to covid. Otherwise, we will risk becoming unwell in a number of ways when we drop all the ‘protection’. Fear is a big issue....gently does it.

There is so much mis-information and ignorance about this virus. Starting with the use of anti-bacterial things, - does not help, as this is a Virus!!!

It is not actually airborne, which is why people are so much at less risk of cross-infection when outdoor - yet, people seem scared to open their windows - when airing their rooms out would be better, than covering everything indoors with bleach, etc.

So, with masks. The normal non-medical standard masks are easily available - they can be purchased on-line and in most pharmacies and supermarkets. These are thought mainly to protect the wearer from passing on anything if they cough and sneeze. There may be a small residual amount of protection for the wearer if they actually come into contact with someone with this virus and get coughed or sneezed at by the person.

In enclosed places, such as underground trains, and buses it can do no harm to wear these, (it is now actually compulsory). In large stores, where there is reasonable social distancing the chances of someone with this virus actually being close enough, for long enough to someone else in that store to pass anything on is minimal, whereas in small shops wearing a mask may be of some help.

No idea why people where them when they are outside, or sitting in their own cars. Perhaps people see them as some sort of magic talisman.

It's compulsory, but not enforced.

Apart from in the Lakeland Ltd shop, I haven't seen anyone wearing a face shield* which is why I wondered of they gave better protection to the wearer. They certainly look more comfortable for working in (although staff of covid wards wear a mask and a shield).
If the risk is so small that you need to actually be coughed or sneezed on directly in order to get it - why has it spread to quickly round the whole world? There's a lot of conflicting talk about and nothing fully explained which is why I'm playing safe.
But I haven't gone as far as sanitising all my shopping piece by piece.
And what about the two 'shielding' ladies who thought they must have caught it from online deliveries?
I don't think anyone knows, they're just guessing.

Forgot the link
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8213971/Woman-caught-coronavirus-despite-self-isolating-believes-passed-bag-groceries.html

Can I put forward my thoughts to look after ourselves.
Make sure you keep your eye areas clean,we all know the amount of gudge that our eyes dispense.
Keep you nails well trimmed.

I always wear a mask when I am out, I feel it must offer me some protection, who knows.

I read about something a doctor said recently. She said wearing a mask certainly protects others, and gives some protection to the wearer. Well it’s always seemed obvious to me, if the mask gives some protection if you cough or sneeze, or are close to someone in a small space, why on earth would it not give some protection the other way? It’s a physical barrier, not perfect of course, unless you buy a filter mask, but nonetheless it’s a physical barrier. And a physical barrier works both ways, not only one way. So I assume it offers some protection, but clearly not 100% protection. And that’s why I wear a mask, usually a home made fabric mask (made by my neighbour for me) but sometimes a paper one bought from U.K. Meds. If I was going to fly (I’m not at the moment) I would buy a filter mask. But no mask will protect you or others completely.

I think the word shield was incorrect - I should have said visor - which is what I saw the shop assistants wearing.

www.medisave.co.uk/barriguard-disposable-face-shield.html

Ah, I have some of those for my work.
We wear them when we are very physically close to the person, because we may breathe in each others breath, and when dealing with anything splashy.

Wearing a face mask is better than not wearing one. It must protect you to a certain extent

it will not take anything away from HCPs, if you purchase a visor.
there are plenty available now, likewise masks, and adverts all over the internet.
a visor might be more comfortable and easier to wear, also easy to clean.
and gives protection to the eyes too, which may also be a route of infection.
i might buy a visor myself, but i wear glasses so i think that gives some protection. i wouldn't care what i looked like or what people thought.
go for it. and report back to us. ! do a test drive.

Sensible post Franbern.

Over here, Madrid, face masks are compulsory outside and in except when seated and eating or drinking or excersising. Still lots of covidiots around with noses over masks or smoking/talking on the phone. Personally I've got used to wearing it and feel more protected.

Perhaps people wear them in their cars as they find it easier to adjust them at home? Or don’t want to touch it until they can wash their hands afterwards. You shouldn’t be touching the mask once you are wearing it, so it perhaps avoids that.

I had to go into a shop this week, and although I felt quite happy with the Covid distancing/sanitising measures they had in place, the assistant must have touched, pulled at and fiddled with his mask over a dozen times in the 15 minutes I was there.