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Mandatory mask wearing. Yes or no?

(78 Posts)
whatevernext1976 Sun 12-Apr-20 14:11:17

In the Czech Republic, there is now compulsory mask-wearing. The being that you protect those around yourself. While it doesn't stop you getting it or passing it on, wearing a mask will reduce the air droplets when you sneeze or cough. He is a video about it.

What do you think? Do you think when lockdown ends, masks should be mandatory? Or are they pointless?

I personally think it would be worth doing especially with handmade cloth type ones that you can wash after each wear. Even if it reduces the spread slightly it is worth it.

OP’s posts: |
BamboozledandBefuddled Sun 12-Apr-20 14:18:31

If you already have breathing problems, wearing a mask can make them worse in many cases. I'm not prepared to wear one as I know they affect my breathing badly.

BeetrootRocks Sun 12-Apr-20 14:21:16

No I don't think they should be

Where do you get hold of them, will people with less materials etc not be allowed out
What about children how do you get them to keep them on
It's horrible trying to breathe through some of those things when it's hot
False sense of security?
Wouldn't want to see people arrested for not wearing them

Sennetti Sun 12-Apr-20 14:21:40

We have some provided at work but I don’t wear it much

I wear glasses, they steam up

cologne4711 Sun 12-Apr-20 14:22:09

Not sure, I think yes for public transport and shops, but not generally walking around (I use a runners' buff and I can't breathe very easily if I try to walk with it on for any length of time).

TheReluctantCountess Sun 12-Apr-20 14:23:55

No. Every time I’ve seen someone wearing a mask, they’ve touched it repeatedly.

BiscuitsandRaindrops Sun 12-Apr-20 16:32:24

Maybe not mandatory but highly recommended, they are pretty easy to get and I think anything that helps reduce transmission is helpful. They may not make a huge difference but if everyone wears them then it will. It stops people spreading symptoms. At the very least, it reminds people not to touch their face. I will certainly be wearing one when lockdown lifts.

HandfulOfFlowers Sun 12-Apr-20 16:33:18

No. People don't keep them clean enough.

donquixotedelamancha Sun 12-Apr-20 16:34:45


1. We don't have enough PPE for doctors and nurses, until we do supplies must be prioritised to the NHS.

2. The general consensus is they don't (on average) help protect the wearer at all, because of the difficulty in taking them off without cross contamination and the tendancy to give a false sense of security. You really need people to be trained properly to make them useful.

What they are useful for is protecting people from the wearers coughing, so in countries which have enough for everyone I can see the point. We don't, so for now it's moot.

nellodee Sun 12-Apr-20 16:40:37

Yes. Every country that is dealing with this effectively uses masks. Why do we assume we know so much better, when we are doing so much worse?

lizzie1970a Sun 12-Apr-20 16:42:27

If it were to be made mandatory though by the government then presumably they'd have the stocks by that point (if it ever happens) to provide people with one so the NHS not having enough wouldn't at that point come into it, plus if they did become mandatory then there'd be public health announcements presumably showing how to use them properly. They're not going to be made mandatory if the NHS doesn't have the supply it needs and it won't become mandatory without advice on how to wear them and minimise contamination.

I agree with them for the short time you have to go food shopping or if you have to go on public transport. I think they're one more tool in the defence, to what degree I don't know but to be used along with the other measures, washing your hands, not touching your face, keeping 2m apart, not going out unless "necessary".

feesh Sun 12-Apr-20 16:47:40

Yes. I used to think no, but the evidence that seems to be coming through is turning me. I’m in a country where we have to wear one to go shopping, and I think this assumption that we can’t properly fit them or use them or dispose of them properly is utterly patronising. It’s not that hard - there are instructions on the box and YouTube videos to show you how to do all of those things. I will only be happy going out after lockdown if masks are made compulsory.

alittlecloudfloatinginthesky Sun 12-Apr-20 16:49:34

I think it makes sense to have a 'face covering' whether it's a proper mask or a homemade job once we start to come out of lockdown, as a visual reminder to practice social distancing and to possibly help slow the rate at which people infect each other.
Needs to come with education on how to wear masks properly (no touching once it's on!) and how to dispose/wash them too.

Plenty of the people who are currently wearing masks around here seem to believe that they breathe through their chin rather than their mouth and nose, so that would need to be addressed!

Scottishhills Sun 12-Apr-20 16:51:37

Yes. Agree with nellodee above - there are several Asian countries which should have much, much higher death toll due to close China links (Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, South Korea, Japan) but every one of these countries that is dealing with this effectively uses masks, everyone. It is disingenuous that we are being told not to wear them as they are «useless«, but that they are apparently essential to protect health carers. That is not logical. Why is the West wrongly so strongly arguing that masks are useless?

lizzie1970a Sun 12-Apr-20 16:56:56

feesh: I think this assumption that we can’t properly fit them or use them or dispose of them properly is utterly patronising - I agree.

lizzie1970a Sun 12-Apr-20 16:57:48

If you can't work it out, if it becomes mandatory then the government will do what it did with hand washing - give detailed explanations.

pinkprosseco Sun 12-Apr-20 16:57:56

I agree with others. I think our Government are not advising mask wearing because we haven't got enough. We can't equip healthcare workers with enough PPE currently so advising the public to wear masks woul£ real havoc. With more PPE they might change their advice.

kevintheorangecarrot Sun 12-Apr-20 17:00:04

Yes I always wear my mask outdoors.

bedtimestories Sun 12-Apr-20 17:03:13

I wear a mask, hand made of three layers of very thick cotton. Tight on my face. I don't touch it once it's on, I remove it with my gloves only touching the mask, then I turn the gloves inside out whilst holding the mask with the glove and then anti bac my hands if i can't wash. Even if it only reduces my chance of catching/spreading it by 1% it's worth it to me. I'm surrounded by vulnerable/key workers so I need to do all I can to not catch it and or bring it home. I don't think the government will enforce masks until they can provide enough for everyone. I more than happy to provide my own

Flaxmeadow Sun 12-Apr-20 17:03:14

Yes. See previous posts about places like Hong Kong and Singapore. Many of these countries are more experienced at dealing with similar types of virus, eg SARS

ILiveInSalemsLot Sun 12-Apr-20 17:04:24

Yes, I think people should wear masks. It would lower the rate of infection and people could start going back to work.
There could be a broadcast to tell people how to wear them responsibly, if people don’t know.
Along with continued hand washing, I think that’s the way forward.

BigChocFrenzy Mon 13-Apr-20 10:45:31


This is one of a group of measures that could help end lockdown
Wearing a mask is nowhere near the inconvenience that lockdown is

There could be a new UK industry, producing 100 million masks per day or whatever
Even homemade masks significantly protect other people from being infected and some don't even need sewing:

BigChocFrenzy Mon 13-Apr-20 10:47:35

I refuse to believe that Brits cannot learn to wear masks when people in China, Singapore and several other countries do so.

Insulting to say we're more stupid than they are

TJH130 Mon 13-Apr-20 11:02:21

But dont these things become saturated and useless within about 3 minutes?

maryberrystalentlesstwin Mon 13-Apr-20 11:47:38

Where would we all get them from? Home made ones aren't effective, and there aren't enough for those that actually do need different ear PPE. Would we have a constant supply delivered for each time we go out, considering they are single use and many people are still having to go out everyday.
Mandatory mask wearing would be a logistical nightmare.

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