Hot topic which seems to get everyone riled!
I have been wearing a mask for ages, before the UK made in mandatory in shops. I will also use one in the gym; I’m asthmatic and get dreadful hay fever so I’ve frequently used face coverings when exercising outdoors. Not the most comfortable thing but no biggie to me.
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Other than that it's going in my pocket.
This.
I don't want to contaminate the mask with whatever gets on my hands.
If I were out in the middle of nowhere, or somewhere else where you aren't constantly going by people, I wouldn't wear one (would have it handy in case). Thinking of driving out somewhere over the weekend where there might be fewer people to hike.
^^This Since it's mandated, I will wear one where the mandate dictates one should be worn - stores, crowded areas where people cannot properly social distance, etc. Otherwise, I don't wear one. I live in very rural area so I rarely if ever pass anyone while on a walk, and there is plenty of room to distance when I do. I am working from home at the moment, and when I do go back to the office, I will wear one where necessary but not in my office because its a fully enclosed room with a door that I can shut and not a cubicle. The company has integrated to mostly TEAMS conference meetings which eliminates the need for face to face meetings in small meeting rooms, but if I find myself in a situation where I need to be in such a meeting or a in person training class, I would wear one in that situation.
I agree that while there is still a lot of questions on whether they truly are effective, it certainly doesn't hurt to wear them, and agree that I'd rather wear one and find that it isn't effective after all than refuse to wear one only to find out later that they are effective and I've exposed myself or someone I care about because of my foolish stubbornness.
* always wear one when near other people (even when doing something outdoors with another person where we may intermittently get close to each other),
* keep a bandana style one around my neck to put on if I'm outdoors on a walk or something where I may unexpectedly encounter someone (I know this is sub-optimal for self-contamination, but it will still help the other person if I'm infected, and I've practiced putting on/taking off without touching the front), and
* wear one in my car when I'm out doing multi-place indoor errands, so I don't fuss with it as much when/after navigating that higher-risk indoor environment.
Even as a 64-year-old with early-stage COPD, I've had no trouble wearing two layers of tight-weave cotton plus an inner filter layer, tightly fitted to cheeks (up to just below eyes) and jawline, while doing normal-intensity activities (walking through stores, brief jog across a street or parking lot) for 3+ hours, during hot weather. I don't see why I couldn't do it longer, I just haven't had reason to do so.
I did experiment with a brisk outdoor walk (between 3.5-4mph) for around 4 continuous miles, back before it got hot, while wearing a tight two-layer cotton mask. I wouldn't call it preferable, but it was completely tolerable. (I don't run, so didn't try that.) Haven't been riding my bike (logistical reasons), but if i did I'd mask up the whole time, it being hard to put one on in the midst of riding, plus getting less warning of approaching others when moving faster.
It's easy IMO, so why not do it. I believe it helps me/others, but even if it's of minor help, it's trivially inconvenient.
I don't in my car or at work but we don't work with the public.
Hugs to you and your family for everything you're going through.
As someone else said, it's such a simple thing, why not??? Better to be safe than sorry.
But if people want to wear one I certainly have no objection, just don't expect other people to share your enthusiasm.