Mask wearing - Page 2

Hi Hew,

     I think a lot of people have the same view as yourself. Just a couple of thoughts on the value of masks: 

 here the UK Scotland has the highest number of infections, yet unlike England they still require masks to be worn in many situations and they have other covid restrictions in place that have been relaxed in England. What does that tell you about the value of  wearing masks?

  I was in Spain last week, in the main there was no need to wear masks outside, just indoors. If masks are required indoors for protection in enclosed spaces how do they protect you when they are removed in restaurants, bars and other social venues? 

 Germany, seen as one of the better performing countries with regards to covid infections and deaths, yesterday had 235,000 new infections and 287 deaths, there have nearly 4 million people with covid countrywide. Their mask wearing policy is similar to Spain.

Mask wearing did not stop Omincron spreading and will not stop the latest variant spreading. If people feel safer wearing masks that is fine. If the law says you must wear masks then it should be obeyed.

 Thankfully the vaccines and new covid treatments are preventing deaths, in the UK the treatment of covid is as good as anywhere in the world now and, in my view, that is allowing us to move towards a normal lifestyle. 

Aitch. 

Hi Fairy108,

I agree.  When you look at how aerosol emissions spread coronavirus, it's easy to understand how masks protect us.  However, their efficacy is severely impacted by those who refuse to wear them and those who don't wear them properly, which is why individual country infection rates is not an accurate measure of their efficacy.  The best that we can do, along with other precautions such as sanitising our hands, is to wear an FFP2 mask which, unlike FFP1s, protects ourselves as well as others.

Stay safe,

Kim

Mask wearing isn't even an issue as far as I'm concerned, it's no trouble to just slip one on, IMO the UK have been a bit blase about restrictions and have the highest death toll in Europe, we also have rising infections, it's true that Scotland currently has a higher infection rate than England but these things are constantly changing. I'm back in England now and mask wearing is about 50/50 on buses and in shops, however nearly everyone knows someone with covid now and the illnesses vary from cold like symptems to more serious illnesses, we're still losing around 800 people a week.

Hi Paul,

      I'm not saying that mask wearing is an issue, it is up to the laws and then individual to follow said laws. Mask wearing as you probably know is not compulsory on public transport or in shops in the England, hence the 50/50 percentage wearing them. Infection figures do vary, in my opinion I would say this is more due to new variants rather than mask wearing or not, otherwise how do you explain Scotland having higher infection rates than England?

 In Europe the UK ranks 22 in deaths per million of population at the moment, Spain rank 23rd and France 24th (https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/ ) 

As there is no standard for recording and reporting deaths it is difficult to say where the UK truely ranks, though perhaps looking at excess deaths might be a more accurate guide, I am sure this will happen soon. 

Aitch.

Do you know if the scrapping of locator form includes Scotland? We’re travelling from Alicante to Edinburgh on 26th march

Hi Kim ,I agree with what you say but right through the really bad times of covid people were masks but not over their I mean honestly.In the end we can only do what we can to protect ourselves .Some people will never do the right thing ,I have health problems so I do what I can to protect my husband and myself .It’s not over cases are rising every day .I wish you well Kim and keep safe .🙏🏻🙏🏻😇😇

Can I just remind egeryone that there are at least 11 other Countries around the world who have also lifted all restrictions, not just the UK.  

There will always be some form of COVID variant floating around, just like the flu.

My wife and I caught COVID at the very early stages when it all came about. We were given antibiotics for 2 weeks and in the last 2 years have been fine.  We have not had the vaccinactions and have no intentions of doing so.  We went to the Spanish Market last Friday and despite the closeness of people there, no one was wearing a mask.  Please be mindful of all the scare mongering going on.  Its very easy for the Governments to play on peoples vulnerabilities and fears and scare people into doing what they want.  If you want to wear a mask - wear one.  If you dont - dont.  All the while we still have the option of The Freedom of Choice (until thats taken away!) then use it.  Someone elses reason and decision to wear a mask/get vaccinated doesnt necessarily have to be yours.  Lets get back to enjoying life instead of living in fear of 'what could be'.😁

Yes the passenger locator form has been scrapped right across the U.K. 

Lynn

Thankyou GrahamLynn, that’s kind of you to reply. Thanks again.

PatsyD

Applies to all of the U.K Have a look at the gov, Scot site. It states quite clearly that locator forms are no longer required from 28 March 😀