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Coronavirus

Coronavirus - The Poll

  • Total voters
    97
Alsty said:
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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Are there actually any offices where they aren't mandatory?
 
At my company it's required unless you have your own private office, but is mandatory in all common areas and open office areas where there are other people. I guess it falls under company policy rather than law. It's a bit like how most offices were non-smoking prior to 2006 even though legally, you could smoke indoors.
 
Alsty said:
At my company it's required unless you have your own private office, but is mandatory in all common areas and open office areas where there are other people. I guess it falls under company policy rather than law. It's a bit like how most offices were non-smoking prior to 2006 even though legally, you could smoke indoors.
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Basically what I'm wondering is would there be any difference if it was made a legal requirement not just internal H&S policy.
 
I really don't see masks becoming a legal requirement for offices. Even in shared offices I would rather use distancing or working from home (ie the person who should be on the desk next to you is at home on days you are in the office).
Masks in corridors, toilets, tea kitchens all make some sense.
 
I have been re-using a mask when I've been out. We take large Ikea food bags which is sturdy plastic with a zip seal. When I have finished with my mask for now, I fold it in half (I understand some styles may not be easy to fold) so the "contaminated" part is on the outside, then it goes straight into the food bag, doesn't even touch the sides and is sealed. When I need it again, it comes straight out, holding the ear loops. I don't know how else to keep a used face mask.

Adjusting the face mask with clean hands only, I touch either under the chin, the bridge of my nose or just where it sits on my cheeks.

I think a full day out somewhere where you are going to get hot and sweaty, maybe it's raining etc, would require more than one mask. I think for most people as long as you put it on properly and take it off correctly, one mask should be OK.

But I guess having a spare one is a good idea.

As to eating a drinking, currently, we have only been eating in the car so no mask, but when outside with a mask and needing a drink, I unlooped one ear, keep hold of the loop with one hand, and drink with the other.

My brother did make a stupid comment the first day we wore face masks outside - basically why take a drink out with us because we can't drink while we have the face masks on. :eek:

(that wasn't quite my expression, more disbelief that we share the same genes)
 
I remove mine by holding the ear loops and pulling forwards off my face. If it's a sunny day I will put the make out in the sun as sunlight has been shown to kill the virus in 7 minutes. If not I put it in a bag and fold the outside of the mask in on itself. Washing hands everytime you touch the mask is essential.
 
Why would you use a mask outside? Inside there effectiveness is not yet proved but outside they are effectively a chocolate teapot.
They do NOT stop you getting Covid at all, a proven fact, they MAY help to stop you spreading it inside if you are symptomatic but then you shouldn’t be out anyway....
 
BigT said:
Why would you use a mask outside? Inside there effectiveness is not yet proved but outside they are effectively a chocolate teapot.
They do NOT stop you getting Covid at all, a proven fact, they MAY help to stop you spreading it inside if you are symptomatic but then you shouldn’t be out anyway....
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A lot of people who get coronavirus get no noticeable symptoms but they can still spread it.
 
I dont wear a mask if in the open air and away from others. If I have to go into a building then I put it on. And depending on the mask they can stop you catching it. A N95 or N98 mask can stop you catching it if the mask is fitted correctly. And studies have shown that masks can reduce transmission of the virus,

So anything that slows transmission of the virus should be a good thing. As for symptomatic patients, yeah they shouldnt be out I agree but the symptoms this virus can cause are now so varied, who the heck knows if they have it or not. Apparently now a few spots on your foot or hand can be sign!
 
There is no proof a non symptomatic can spread it, in fact all of the evidence shows opposite.

Yes a surgical FTTP3 mask can stop you catching it but the public should definitely not be using those, they are for hospital use only.
 
A group of parents of children with disabilities, as well as adults with disabilities themselves, have filed a lawsuit against the owners of Kennywood, Sandcastle, and Idlewild over the company’s mask policy.

Palace Entertainment, the company that owns the parks, has a policy that requires all guests to wear masks to enter the parks and while they are inside the parks. The policy does not provide an exception for people who have disabilities or can’t wear a mask for medical reasons.
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Story
 
Time to be unpopular (again?), but it's what I think, so...

Mask exemptions for medical reasons are a nonsense. Beyond very small children and those with serious mental capacity issues for which a covering the face would be an obvious choking hazard as they don't know not to breathe it in or crew on it, there should be no exemptions.

I appreciate for some people it'll be uncomfortable, it might be physcologicaly challenging, it might make them feel panicked, it might mean some people don't feel able to do some things they'd like to in an ideal world where a mask might be required for an extended period (like going to a theme park), but whatever hardship they feel they'd be under do you know what it wouldn't be as bad as? Death. Which is the real potential consequence of not wearing a mask.

With the risks involved, exemptions from masks where they are mandated are not a reasonable adjustment when weighted up against a duty to keep other customers safe. Businesses are right to refuse entry.
 
Very, very good news, guys; both Oxford and Moderna have released very promising data from human trials for a potential COVID-19 vaccine: https://apple.news/A9gGEi2LVQJmDJ74akCSXOQ

Oxford’s vaccine has been shown to provide the required immune response without any dangerous side effects, and has also been shown to mobilise t-cells. While we still need results from the larger efficacy trial before we can determine its real world effectiveness (these trials consisted of 1,000 British volunteers), this is extremely promising!

A vaccine by Moderna being developed in the USA has also been shown to provide a “robust” immune response.

On the whole, I think this is immensely positive news!
 
BigT said:
Why would you use a mask outside? Inside there effectiveness is not yet proved but outside they are effectively a chocolate teapot.
They do NOT stop you getting Covid at all, a proven fact, they MAY help to stop you spreading it inside if you are symptomatic but then you shouldn’t be out anyway....
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If you're in the high street and going from shop to shop it would be silly not to keep a mask on. Technically you are outside until you walk inside, but it's not worth the faffing around taking it off and on.

Somewhere like AT, if I was going through the gardens and currently you need a mask on for the rides, shops etc, I would hope that if I was well away from other people, going up some of those steep areas in the garden, I would not have to wear one.

But if I was walking through a busy outside area, and I still had my mask on from being inside a shop, I would probably just keep it on.

Update on the recently purchased face masks which arrived today, they have been washed and have tried them on. Very nice feel, great fit and I tried blowing out a lighter at various distances (both with a mask and without), I was in danger of setting fire to the mask, I had to get the lighter really close to my face before it blew out.

Very impressed, in case anyone is interested they were from Bon Prix, 5 for £15 but we had a code so that made it £12. The are a bit feminine but they also have another set which are darker colours.
 
Matt N said:
Very, very good news, guys; both Oxford and Moderna have released very promising data from human trials for a potential COVID-19 vaccine: https://apple.news/A9gGEi2LVQJmDJ74akCSXOQ

Oxford’s vaccine has been shown to provide the required immune response without any dangerous side effects, and has also been shown to mobilise t-cells. While we still need results from the larger efficacy trial before we can determine its real world effectiveness (these trials consisted of 1,000 British volunteers), this is extremely promising!

A vaccine by Moderna being developed in the USA has also been shown to provide a “robust” immune response.

On the whole, I think this is immensely positive news!
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There's a really good long read on Bloomberg on the Oxford trial, which if you've got the time is pretty interesting.
 
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