Forum Topic

Masks missing

I had to go to Charing Cross Hospital for medical reasons today - not Covid. Drove my car to avoid public transport, and parked nearby. Then walked to the hospital. Quite a few people out and about, and I reckon about 50% were not wearing masks! I was careful to keep a good distance of 2m plus. Very often that meant swerving out if the way of much younger people who walk on unconcerned about those around them on the pavement.What is it with these idiots.Nick

Nicholas Evans ● 2130d16 Comments

Masks are not mandatory outside and Chris Witty this morning said outside masking would make minimal impact.  2 metre rule being observed is the main thing.Unless it becomes compulsory outside nit sure we can expect people to wear one.

Andy Pike ● 2130d

I've tried wearing masks outside but I've not found a successful way of stopping my glasses from streaming up (without continuously wiping them which we're advised not to do ...); I decided keeping 2m apart was less risky than tripping up walking on poorly maintained pavements.

Michael Ixer ● 2130d

I didn’t mention the maskless people going in to Sainsbury’s and Little Waitrose. The groups of people not wearing face coverings walking along as though they owned the pavement (3/4/5). Of course the smokers outside the hospital were not wearing masks, but some at the bus stop were face naked.Glasses? If mine steam up I take them off. I’m short-sighted, but can fumble my way around.Nick (alias Groucho)

Nicholas Evans ● 2130d

my glasses steam up too so I tend to use the full face shield although they have mixed reports. However, watching tv tonight the hospital shown had ordinary masks and full face shields worn at the same time by staff ( Fergus Walsh was doing the interview)  Think I must have peculiar shaped ears too as normal half face masks keep slipping off lol

Barbara Shillabeer ● 2130d

Visors are only of use for those carrying out aerosal generating procedures. Unless you are intubating someone with covid as an anesthetist (and wearing a FFP3 mask), they are of little use. Worryingly the general public is substiting masks for visors which does not protect them or others from passing on or contracting the virus.

Simon Sharp ● 2130d

Yet more misinformation!  ( not you ) Trying to do the right, safest thing, I'm open to incorrect or misleading facts.Thanks for enlightening me

Barbara Shillabeer ● 2130d

It will probably do little harm if you want another layer of protection in case someone has a coughing fit near you- just ensure the mask is definitely worn beneath at all times

Simon Sharp ● 2130d

It's depressing and worrying to see so many people heedless of social norms: for example, some supermarkets, like the Local Sainsbury's opposite Quill Bridge, have one-way systems to help on narrow aisles, but they are widely ignored. How do you deal with people who think the rules are for others, not them?

Richard Carter ● 2129d

Which type of mask do you recommend?  Disposable, my preference really, or a reusable one with vents etc?

Barbara Shillabeer ● 2129d

The reusable ones are more substantial and kinder on the environment. But I've found you need a few of these each as you shouldn't be wearing the same one two days in a row. So you need to have one to wear when the others are in the wash.

Mark Derry ● 2129d

A follow-up: there is conflicting evidence over the extent to which the disease is transmitted in supermarkets. Public Health England report that supermarkets are the most frequent common exposure setting for Covid-19 in England, with 18% of transmissions occurring after visits there. On the other hand, and make of that what you will, Isabel Oliver, director of the National Infection Service at PHE, has said: “Suggestions that supermarkets are causing COVID-19 to spread are inaccurate. Common exposure data does not prove where people are contracting COVID-19.  It simply shows where people who have tested positive have been in the days leading up to their test and it is used to help identify possible outbreaks.”https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/covid-supermarkets-uk-exposure-nhs-b1748906.html

Richard Carter ● 2129d

On my visits to Moorfields and Guys someone at the door has taken my mask and given me a new one.  If I was wearing one of those blue things they throw it away, but if it's one of the more substantial ones they let me stuff it in my bag.

Elizabeth Balsom ● 2129d

The same at Kingston Hospital visit. I was issued an NHS mask on arrival to wear instead of my own one.

Michael Ixer ● 2129d

It does seem unclear. The survey doesn't really say if those people had only been to supermarkets or had, for example, frequented schools, etc as well. Or even associated with someone from the same household they might have caught it from? Intuitively, if more people go to supermarkets than the other establishments measured it seems there's a higher probability they contracted it in one but that doesn't mean supermarkets are a riskier environment per se. A good reason to stick with on-line shopping?

Michael Ixer ● 2129d

Me too Michael.  They are too big for me so when inside the MDU I put my FFP2 back on.

Sue Hammond ● 2129d

I have to say from my experience there is a very high compliance with the mask rule in supermarkets.I do our shopping every Monday around mid morning and apart from the madness of the early days in March have found the supermarkets pretty good.

Andy Pike ● 2129d