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Coronavirus

Coronavirus - The Poll

  • Total voters
    97
Dudes, don't get so worked up over it. If you're going shopping then you're only going to be in the shops for a relatively short period of time (unless you're one of those weirdo's who spends 15 minutes in every aisle picking up every third item and reading the whole of the packaging). All you have to do is make a small effort and wear some kind of face covering just so you're complying with the new rules. This can be a scarf or anything as long as you're obviously not taking the mickey. I personally use one of those Buff snood/scarf things that people use for hiking etc. Very thin material that sits around your neck usually but can quickly be pulled up to cover the mouth/nose/face. You can then use it in the winter when it's cold etc so you're not just throwing your money away each time you throw away a disposable mask. No decent place is going to give you any grief as long as you genuinely show that you're trying to stick to the rules.

https://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/mens/br:buff/ (an example of the scarves/snoods I wear)

It will be hard to enforce anyway as many people will just say that they can't wear one due to a hidden disability and say they have no documentation with them. Not many security staff will be able to turn people away if they just lie about it. I can see half of the population suddenly developing a condition. I just simply don't see the problem with putting a covering over your face whilst you spend minutes shopping unless you genuinely have a health reason not to. So many babies around these days. Much more important wars to fight with the government than not wanting to wear a mask for a few minutes every couple of days.
 
Doublethink said:
Sorry I don't think I made my anti-masker mocking sarcasm strong enough. That's a genuine thing I hear them say.

I work in a mask all day being medical. It sucks but I would rather I didn't infect the people im trying to look after
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The best i hear from anti mask person. ' 'They hold in poison breath out. That will kill us all'

If they think the exhaled gasses from the lungs are poisonous. We should tell them exhaled air is all around them.

Sent from my SM-J600FN using Tapatalk
 
BarryZola said:
It will be hard to enforce anyway as many people will just say that they can't wear one due to a hidden disability and say they have no documentation with them. Not many security staff will be able to turn people away if they just lie about it. I can see half of the population suddenly developing a condition. I just simply don't see the problem with putting a covering over your face whilst you spend minutes shopping unless you genuinely have a health reason not to. So many babies around these days. Much more important wars to fight with the government than not wanting to wear a mask for a few minutes every couple of days.
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I believe the term for people like that is an absolute (fill in explicative of choice here).
 
Jonathan said:
I'm sorry, but that logic is completely and utterly ridiculous. And I think you know it.
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Yes you got me on that one, the Liverpool thing was a wind up but they did look ridiculous.

I won’t go shopping in a face mask though, I don’t enjoy breathing in them and find them uncomfortable, Amazon is a easy alternative though so until this ridiculous law is relaxed I don’t need to go shopping and I know I’m not alone in that (Scotland reported a 40% reduction in footfall on the first weekend) so like I said it will eventually lead to death of the high street.
 
Personally from the masks I have used, the medical ones were the best although they moved a lot when I was speaking.

I have definitely read recently, and saw it on a consumer website that while you can buy the medical masks easily (they have them everywhere we got ours from M&S) they would prefer it if people could buy re-usable and washable ones.

But I don't think there is any rule. Whatever is comfortable for most people and also affordable.

Because it's going to get expensive if you need to change your mask a couple of times a day and they can't be re-used.
 
Spookle15 said:
Personally from the masks I have used, the medical ones were the best although they moved a lot when I was speaking.

I have definitely read recently, and saw it on a consumer website that while you can buy the medical masks easily (they have them everywhere we got ours from M&S) they would prefer it if people could buy re-usable and washable ones.

But I don't think there is any rule. Whatever is comfortable for most people and also affordable.

Because it's going to get expensive if you need to change your mask a couple of times a day and they can't be re-used.
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Much easier to just not change it throughout the day.
 
imanautie said:
Much easier to just not change it throughout the day.
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I agree, but the other day when we had on new polyester masks from Superdrug, it was obvious it was getting kinda damp and apparently if that happens then you should change the mask. I don't know if that's from a hygiene perspective of breathing in moist face mask air or the mask being less of a barrier, I'm really not sure of the reason.

I'm really hoping this is why cotton seems to be the material that's best. Not necessarily because its COVID-19 secure, but that it will be more pleasant to wear.

Also what happens if they get rained on? Does that matter or does it depend on the material?
 
I think the only other argument against disposable masks (for non-medical use) is the environmental impact of the rubbish (see also straws and coffee cups). Cotton is better as can be washed.

but for those waiting for this to be over before they go shopping, you could be waiting a year or more for a vaccine.
 
I bought a good one in boots the other day. It's called the AB mask. It's washable. Antibacterial. Adjustable earCear straps and fits really well. It also comes with a replaceable N95 filter (new ones are 5 for £5) and best of all , it's from a British company and made in the UK.

The mask itself is £10.
 
Spookle15 said:
I agree, but the other day when we had on new polyester masks from Superdrug, it was obvious it was getting kinda damp and apparently if that happens then you should change the mask. I don't know if that's from a hygiene perspective of breathing in moist face mask air or the mask being less of a barrier, I'm really not sure of the reason.
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I believe there are two reasons not to wear a damp/wet face mask.

1. Reduces effectiveness of the mask, I believe tending towards being completely useless once fully wet.

2. Can lead to health implications for the wearer. I haven't been able to verify the specific implication, but the medical advice I've seen is don't do it.

Face masks and rain is certainly an issue. Just looking at Merlin's recommendations of not wearing masks on water rides to prevent it getting wet, but having to wear one on a roller coaster when it's raining, suggests we may have some compatibility issues on rainy days.
 
Something I've not seen addressed much is removing masks and putting back on. From what I've read, once you remove a mask then you should treat it as contaminated and keep it bagged until you can wash it... but how does that work in the real world? If I'm going somewhere by train, does that mean I need one mask out and a clean mask for the return? What if I'm eating, would I remove the mask then have to have a clean one for after I've eaten? I now have to take several masks for a single day out, and keep the clean and dirty ones bagged separately? Is that right or am I overthinking it?
 
Alsty said:
Something I've not seen addressed much is removing masks and putting back on. From what I've read, once you remove a mask then you should treat it as contaminated and keep it bagged until you can wash it... but how does that work in the real world? If I'm going somewhere by train, does that mean I need one mask out and a clean mask for the return? What if I'm eating, would I remove the mask then have to have a clean one for after I've eaten? I now have to take several masks for a single day out, and keep the clean and dirty ones bagged separately? Is that right or am I overthinking it?
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I think in theory then yes, you are right. I saw something saying that if you were getting public transport for work then you need two masks; one for going and one for coming back. In reality though I do not see how that is feasible all of the time. I guess part of the thinking is that the mask could become contaminated between taking it off and wearing it again.
 
Alsty said:
Something I've not seen addressed much is removing masks and putting back on. From what I've read, once you remove a mask then you should treat it as contaminated and keep it bagged until you can wash it... but how does that work in the real world? If I'm going somewhere by train, does that mean I need one mask out and a clean mask for the return? What if I'm eating, would I remove the mask then have to have a clean one for after I've eaten? I now have to take several masks for a single day out, and keep the clean and dirty ones bagged separately? Is that right or am I overthinking it?
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I think in terms of Covid, there is a risk that if you have the virus but are not symptomatic, it will get on your fingers from the mask and then you spread it further, hence why you should only touch the ear loops. But of course if you already have the virus wearing the same mask later in the same day doesn't pose a huge risk to yourself, just again that it might get on hands and spread that way.
Other concerns would just be bacterial growth on a damp mask. Similar to putting on sweaty gym kit again.
 
So here I am in sunniest Blackburn (without Darwen), rain has seen off some work, so lets do our civic duty and go get tested.
Oh, despite a new "drop in" testing service, you have to register, and book!
Now, question two...mobile number...oh.
I have undertaken the non digital journey to covid testing.
Not many of us about...but it has been fun so far.
 
jon81uk said:
I think in terms of Covid, there is a risk that if you have the virus but are not symptomatic, it will get on your fingers from the mask and then you spread it further, hence why you should only touch the ear loops. But of course if you already have the virus wearing the same mask later in the same day doesn't pose a huge risk to yourself, just again that it might get on hands and spread that way.
Other concerns would just be bacterial growth on a damp mask. Similar to putting on sweaty gym kit again.
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It's almost been mentioned in a few places that damp masks are slightly harder to deal with on a sensory level, I'm assuming that effect will apply to most people to some degree.
 
Two bits of Coronavirus news today:
A few people have called for an inquiry into the goverment's handling of the crisis so it's good that one will go ahead, although no timetable has been set so it could be months or years away.
 
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