Forum Topic

Face masks

"Face masks should be worn at indoor events as Covid cases rise sharply, scientist advises". Here we go again.

Brian Coyle ● 948d37 Comments

Hope you feel better soon Jim.

Janice Evans ● 495d

It's personal choice.

Janice Evans ● 495d

During slavery - slaves were forced to wear masks to emphasise that they had "no voice" -  and to show that the slaves were under the control of authority.

Anna Kirkpatrick ● 496d

"Funny that I had a flu and covid jab some 4 weeks back!"Yeah, funny that..

Michael Brown ● 496d

The current Flu Bug doing the rounds is no funny matter.Having been floored for the past three weeks ... and still suffering ...I wish I had masked myself up.Funny that I a flu and covid jab some 4 weeks back!

Jim Lawes ● 496d

The thing is it's difficult to see a doctor if you are ill so we try to preventbecoming ill in the first place, the more people that wear masks the less germs about, its up to the individual of course at the moment.

Janice Evans ● 496d

If you wish to wear one then so be it.I don't wish to wear one or have it pushed upon us by central GVMt.What spain does is up to them.

Julian Pavey ● 496d

We have never stop using masks, Covid is still here.

Janice Evans ● 496d

Spain is re introducing face masks in hospitals and doctors surgeries. Why haven't we with the uptick in infections.

Nicholas Beard ● 496d

Fortunately face masks are still mandatory at NHS facilities. Long may they remain as Covid gains pace over the winter. Especially as it is not known if the booster vaccine even lasts for 3 months as previously thought.

Steve Taylor ● 939d

“ You've gone a bit quiet Steve. “No I haven’t but I do indeed have a life beyond this forum. I can confirm again that it is mandatory to wear a mask on NHS premises.

Steve Taylor ● 940d

You would have to be blind to not see the signs showing that it is mandatory to wear a face mask at West Mid. As you enter there are boxes providing free masks which are mandatory. My GP surgery also has a mandatory ruling.

Steve Taylor ● 940d

The reason in the first place was obviously because the Govt was unprepared and the masks available were needed primarily for those in hospitals and surgeries etc dealing with sick and vulnerable people.  At first hospitals tried to separate those with Covid from those who didn't have it into two different areas to reduce spread. They soon discovered that that didn't work.  This was before there was any testing available.)  Many work practices and businesses have changed the way they operate and altered their premises - if they can - to make them safer for staff and customers.With the cold weather setting in many more spaces are now becoming enclosed...  and there IS online Govt advice for reducing the spread of respiratory diseases...https://www.gov.uk/guidance/ventilation-to-reduce-the-spread-of-respiratory-infections-including-covid-19#ventilation-in-the-workplace-and-non-domestic-settings

Philippa Bond ● 940d

It's the world we live in..I'm guessing the people wearing them Aren't giving you a hard time for not.

Freddy Sims ● 940d

But being vaccinated doesn't stop you getting Covid.  You may not be very ill, or ill at all, but you can still be infectious and pass it on.On the other hand, most masks people wear are really rather inadequate.

Vivienne Cox ● 940d

Perhaps you should ask them why they were all wearing masks, when they are not required, and a waste of time?

Brian Coyle ● 940d

"It is also mandatory to wear a mask on NHS premises". You've gone a bit quiet Steve.

Brian Coyle ● 940d

Masks required at Cook on Chiswick Lane.All the staff were wearing masks and masks were required.Yet the shop is quite spacious, and rarely are there several people there at the same time.  There was no explanation or no suggestion it was a choice.It made me think about whether to go back there while they have this requirement. I’m fully vaccinated.

Jackie Elton ● 941d

If that was for me then take the followingUnless its law or imposed its a choice.

Julian Pavey ● 942d

Very very sensible. The voice of reason!

Nicholas Beard ● 942d

And that includes us

Julian Pavey ● 942d

By law every business has to do their own risk assessment.

Philippa Bond ● 942d

I've had reason to go into West Middlesex Hospital twice in the last week and I would say that a good half of the people in there were not wearing a mask. Me too on the first occasion actually - for whatever reason, it just didn't cross my mind. On a visit to the Mulberry (Cancer Centre) on site nobody was wearing a mask although the door to the garden was kept open throughout my visit.

Anne England ● 942d

Not quite true Steve. Where did you read this? I can't find anywhere where it states categorically that it is mandatory to wear a mask on NHS premises.   "Rules on wearing face masks in hospitals and GP surgeries in England have been largely scrapped under new NHS guidance. Instead, organisations will now draft their own policies regarding face coverings.Despite the rule change, a number of hospitals have called on patients and staff to continue to wear masks on their sites. However, some GP surgeries and health centres have already taken down signs telling patients to wear masks on entry".

Brian Coyle ● 943d

"We have continued to wear masks when out."And so you should! Especially in shops, buses, trains, libraries etc etc. It is also mandatory to wear a mask on NHS premises.

Steve Taylor ● 946d

We have continued to wear masks when out.

Janice Evans ● 947d

"The husband-and-wife team responsible for the Biontech vaccine, and currently at the forefront of cancer research, were interviewed by Laura Kuenssberg this morning."Colin Jordon is 100% correct. I will happily follow the advice of the two eminent professors!

Steve Taylor ● 947d

I'm seeing a lot more people wearing masks, including an upsurge in the larger white 'filtering' ones that jut out at the front. I have some of these but find them uncomfortable.

Susan Kelly ● 947d

That’s right, Nicholas.  For example, anyone who has spent time in the Far East knows how widespread mask-wearing in public is, and this pre-dates Covid.  It’s partly a cultural thing.  In the west we are more focussed on individual rights so vehement refusal to wear a mask is part of that.  In the east there is more of a communal sense so people wear masks whenever they have a cough or cold and want to go out in public because to do otherwise would be seen as anti-social.

Alastair Banton ● 947d

The husband-and-wife team responsible for the Biontech vaccine, and currently at the forefront of cancer research, were interviewed by Laura Kuenssberg this morning. They were very impressive people, modest and articulate, and when asked about masks, they said that they both still wear them in situations where large numbers of people are encountered, such as when shopping or travelling. Personally, I'm happy to accept the advice of experts, and, having lately been a bit absent-minded about it, will go back to wearing a mask on such occasions.

Colin Jordan ● 947d

I went to a pharmacy on Friday and they had sold out of masks. I got some in the third pharmacy. So some people are buying them. In a lot of countries they have not stopped wearing them.

Nicholas Beard ● 947d

Having not made or maintained adequate (or any?) provision for the expected sometime pandemic Govt was in disarray.  Hence the haphazard contracts.  What has happened to the investigation?

Philippa Bond ● 947d

For all the lockdowns, Track 'n' Trace, mask-wearing, social distancing, furlough and the fake vaccines, almost everyone caught Covid and continue to do so (apparently). £500b poured down the drain, as they knew. The whole saga has never been about public health but a psychological operation to damage society; and they did a good job.

Michael Brown ● 947d

Coughs and sneezes spread diseases.  Plenty of hand washing also needed.  It hasn't changed much in generations.

Philippa Bond ● 947d

As if marching up & down Sainsbury's in masks and 1.5m apart prevents the spread of a virus. You can only pity these brain-dead sados..

Michael Brown ● 947d

It is all rubbish, isn't it, Brian?  Glad to see another with a (working) brain.

Elle Jones ● 947d

Some of us do anyway.  If you visit a hospital or surgery you will be encouraged and/or expected to as well.  It helps to keep the number of respiratory viruses of whatever kind down.  That helps to keep the hospital workforce and others visiting hospitals and surgeries healthier as well as yourself. Many buildings have had their ventilation improved since lockdown and it is still suggested that people meet in well ventilated space or outside rather than in crowded indoor spaces where respiratory viruses of all kinds can easily spread.  We talk about 'just having a cold' but there are hundreds of cold viruses.

Philippa Bond ● 948d