Forum Topic

Please wear masks in shops

I cannot understand why this is not compulsory. Don’t be selfish. Think of others who are terrified and possibly more vulnerable than you.

Sean Wales ● 2325d15 Comments

The masks are for you not to infect others, if you know you are safe and are keeping to the two metre rule and maybe have been tested, why on earth would you? What I find extraordinary are the people who wear masks, pull them down then put them back up, thereby negating the whole point of them. I’m back teaching at school and it would be awful for the children to be taught by their teachers PPE’d up - but we teachers all socially distance

Madeleine Hazard ● 2325d

If you have had Covid-19 and have the anti-bodies then there is no need.

Hayden Potier ● 2325d

I just wish people would wear them properly - which many do not - just a waste of time, might just as well not bother.

Vanessa Smith ● 2325d

Worth reading this if you think having definitely had it makes you safe.  Jury is still out.https://www.the-scientist.com/news-opinion/studies-report-rapid-loss-of-covid-19-antibodies-67650

Rebecca Singer ● 2325d

The experience of my niece-in-law who is a practising nurse would seem to confirm this article.  She was diagnosed with Covid 19 around 6-8 weeks ago.  She had mild symptoms fortunately and has now mostly recovered.Very recently she had an antibodies test which came out negative.

Alastair Banton ● 2325d

A friend is being tested regularly as they are vulnerable and undergoing treatment.  They had the virus. Confirmed by a test. They then had two antibody tests. One at 4 weeks after contracting and another two weeks later. Both positive. However the latest antibody test At 10 weeks has come back negative. So antibodies do not stay in system or the tests are not reliable. His hospital said many people are buying antibody tests online which only require finger prick blood to be drawn. These are not reliable at all. Venous antibody tests more reliable but still not guaranteed. Hence, please where masks. We really do not know enough about this virus to take risks. Saying you have no need to wear a mask as you have had the virus and had antibody test is absolutely no guarantee you cannot catch again and therefore infect others too. I cannot believe the selfish assumptions that people are making.

Sean Wales ● 2325d

Sean, I understand why you accuse people of being selfish but surely it’s down to shambolic communication, at a time when clear messages were vital. The immunity levels conferred by the virus are questionable (and, to be fair, always have been). The huge difference of severity of the virus experienced by patients should give us pause for thought. Some lose their sense of smell and taste. Some are in an induced coma for weeks. Some die. The worst of all lotteries. Given that lottery, I think we should all wear masks in shops and on public transport. Outdoors - I’m happy not to wear a mask so long as people keep their distance. Especially cyclists and joggers.

Beryl Wall ● 2324d

Agree, Beryl, I don't wear a mask in the park and take care to avoid people.  When I go out to pick up a prescription this week I will wear a mask and gloves.

Claire Moran ● 2324d

You're right its mostly for you to not infect others but there is some protection of wearing it yourself, if you handle the mask correctly.  And if you are wearing a mask and have passed someone who is infectious, just the act of wearing it means you are less likely to touch your face and get the virus inside you.The other more positive impact of wearing one is societal norms - even if you don't believe you're infectious (how can you tell for sure????), if it becomes the "norm" people wear masks inside shops then people who are infectious will be using them before they realise they are infected because "that's what we do in a mutually supportive society".I don't believe I'm infectious but I'm still not going to run up to my mother and father who are in their 80s and give them a great big hug.  Just not prepared to take the risk that some infectious idiot who passed me with his mask under his chin yesterday afternoon in Boots hasn't just passed the virus onto me even though I WAS wearing a mask inside a shop as advised, which means I could infect both my parents before knowing I have a virus which is likely to kill them both if they get it.

Louise Cole ● 2324d

'I could infect both my parents before knowing I have a virus which is likely to kill them both if they get it.'What do you mean by 'likely'? Even in the over-80s, only about 20% are ill enough to require hospitalisation. If you do infect your parents, then the most likely outcome is that they will recover at home.

Susan Kelly ● 2323d

Yes, but who wants to take the risk?  You don't know how susceptible anybody will be to this virus.  You can go and see someone without hugging them.

Philippa Bond ● 2323d

Don't be so sure about those antibody tests.  Listen to the info on this programme:  BBC More or Less 10 June 2020 if you didn't hear it.https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p08ghqmmand read what Sean has written about how unreliable tests seem to be.

Philippa Bond ● 2323d

I cannot believe some of the comments on here‘If you do infect your parents, then the most likely outcome is that they will recover at home.‘  Are  you really willing to play Russian roulette with your parents lives?‘ you have had Covid-19 and have the anti-bodies then there is no need.’  There is no evidence as yet to prove you can’t catch the virus again in a different form. Antibody tests are unreliable. 

Sean Wales ● 2323d

To those who are pro mandatory mask and distancing I'd like to point out that the UK economy has already taken a huge hit with soaring debt, unemployment (currently hidden by furlough) and missed treatments for other conditions.The longer this goes on the more damage to peoples physical and psychological health will be inflicted.  And until we have a vaccine or effective treatments it is open ended.  So, suggestions please on how we can get life back to normal asap whilst also protecting the vulnerable.

Andy Riley ● 2323d

'Are  you really willing to play Russian roulette with your parents lives?'No one's asking her to. I expect she'll continue to stay away from them.What I'm challenging with my comment that you 'cannot believe' is the widespread perception that if you stick your nose out of the door then you'll catch the virus, and if you catch it then you'll die. Neither of these things is true. People seem to have lost any ability they might ever have had to assess risk.

Susan Kelly ● 2323d