Face mask or no face mask?

Like many others, I do not wear one outside when running or biking, but I'm in an area where maintaining distance is achievable. I also tend to go out at times and places where it is less busy. When walking in public areas where it's bust and harder to maintain distance or indoors in any public place, I wear one.

FWIW, I did one six mile test run in a surgical mask to see how it was. A bit annoying with especially with the hot and humid conditions, but normal HR and no problems, and not something I would have an issue doing if it became necessary due to increased spread or being in a busier environment.

The evidence for the effectiveness of face coverings in slowing the spread of the coronavirus is not perfect, but it now strong enough and growing in strength based on observational studies and studies on the ability of masks to filter droplets and modeling efforts that the cost/benefit is squarely in favor of wearing a face covering.

https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/21299527/masks-coronavirus-covid-19-studies-research-evidence

I've been wearing one for months now and I've been abused for it, which I find crazy. Now it is mandatory in the UK the abuse has slowed but I am still recieving some. At the end of the day, if there is the smallest chance it can protect others, then why not? Its hardly a hardship to wear a mask for that 1minute+ you are in a shop. The way some people act you'd think you've asked them to run a marathon, no no.. just wear a mask while you're in a shop. I personally find it disrespectful when people don't wear them in shops, its kind of like saying "i don't care about your health or if you get covid" regardless of how you feel about them, its hardly a lot to ask to wear a mask for that 1min+ you're in a shop..

Ps. This is a dangerous topic because so many passionate people are against it or for it ..
ps2. If the above offends anyone I apologise, they are just my thoughts, I don't think any less of anyone not wearing one, each to their own.

cwolfman13 wrote: »

It's mandated to wear a mask in public if you are unable to socially distance or social distancing is more difficult...basically going into the store and whatnot. I do not wear a mask outdoors unless I am in a crowded area...I don't wear one when I ride or go on my walks or hikes. I will not be returning to my big box gym anytime soon so no mask issue there. Once I am off the injured list I will be returning to my one on one personal training gym and I will not be wearing a mask as it is just myself, my wife, and our trainer.

And all of your trainer's other clients. Even if they're not physically present, your trainer is a vector to transmit their germs to you.

freda78 wrote: »

Lots of people here seem convinced that face coverings will protect them from covid19 - why? I have no idea as it really won't. Where does this delusion come from????

CNN have an interesting piece on this today too.

A mask isn't a space suit. It won't isolate me from the world.

What a mask will do is catch and hold at least some of the moisture escaping from a person's nose and mouth and reduce the spray distance of what it doesn't catch. That protects others from me, to a certain extent. It's still not a space suit but at least I'm not showering everyone like I'm a lawn sprinkler. When others wear their masks, then they aren't showering me.

A mask is helpful for the same reason we cover our mouths when we cough or sneeze. It's just polite to try to contain any overspray that we can, especially now when that overspray may have COVID-19 in it.

freda78 wrote: »

Lots of people here seem convinced that face coverings will protect them from covid19 - why? I have no idea as it really won't. Where does this delusion come from????

CNN have an interesting piece on this today too.

It doesn't guarantee you won't get it by any means. But, if everyone is wearing one it can greatly minimize the spread. I'd rather not see the healthcare system overwhelmed, and I'd rather control spread by wearing a mask than continue massive shutdowns. The economic impact of this virus is already huge, why would you not do your part to help the world get back to as normal as it can?

freda78 wrote: »

Lots of people here seem convinced that face coverings will protect them from covid19 - why? I have no idea as it really won't. Where does this delusion come from????

CNN have an interesting piece on this today too.

Lots of people seem convinced masks will protect the patient in the operating room, why? Doctors don't need to wear masks to operate and everyone should demand they don't because it's a delusion.

People die in car accidents despite wearing a seatbelt. We should ban seatbelts because in some cases it makes it hard to get out of the damaged car.

Everyone should sneeze in other people's faces because sneezing into your elbow will not protect others if you're sick.

Hearing protection devices don't filter out all the noise, so they're useless and everyone operating loud machinery should stop wearing them.

Don't wear sunscreen, it won't protect you from sunburn 100%, some people are allergic to it, and many people don't apply it correctly.

freda78 wrote: »

Lots of people here seem convinced that face coverings will protect them from covid19 - why? I have no idea as it really won't. Where does this delusion come from????

CNN have an interesting piece on this today too.

It comes from misinformation or fear. Japan is often considered the golden standard. However according to Worldometers, there are 40% of the countries in the world that have less deaths by M. All the Asian zone is low death, masks or not. And they have no idea what is social distancing either, as they are stacked up. You are right that all these masks with zero rating won't prevent an infection of a virus. Their meshing is like 20x the size of the virus and of course, it doesn't come alone... about 100 000s+ of them when present. Not a chance.

Those useless measures (including lockdowns) don't work and they are the authorities ways to control the message. They destroy our economy. Instead of paying once for that ordeal, we pay twice or thrice because they were successful to traumatize the population. Few people know how many communicable infectuous deaths show year after year. WHO reported 1.5M deaths for 2018 alone. It is not even the worst and there are many, many others.

I wear a mask at the gym (that's the only pubic space I've been in since March 13th); and only take off for short periods to drink water.

The risk of contracting COVID and spreading it to my kids and elderly father with emphysema outweighs the "discomfort" of the mask. I read that mask use can reduce the wearer's risk of contracting COVID by 30% (can't provide source, but I'm sure that can be googled searched). 30% is better than 0%...and wearing a mask is a super easy behavior.

Plus, I order a KISS mask, so I have a cool mask.

I work with the public and am exposed to hundreds of people a day. I wear a mask 8 hours at work -- it's required, for good reason. Several employees have come down with COVID-19.

I keep a box of masks in my car so I can put one on to run into the grocery or other store. I wear a mask if I stop by my elderly neighbor's house to drop something off at the door (otherwise, I stay away from her).

I don't wear a mask when I exercise outside by myself, but keep one handy if I pass people. I don't like masks, but so what. I would rather wear one than up for my risk for the disease, or give it to others.

I'm in the United States. More people have died here from COVID-19 than Americans who died in the Vietnam War or WWI. Most people only have to wear a mask for a few minutes, less than an hour, when they go into a store or other public place. I see the refusal to wear a mask as mostly ignorance and a lack of caring about other people. If you don't care if you get the disease, okay. Why spread it to other people and overwhelm the hospitals?