Former Lancastrian

So if I am the only one wearing a mask then who am I protecting?

Danny B

Well if you feel sick or have a cold, then you are protecting those around you.

caretaker

Everybody else, just in case you've picked up a touch of the dreaded lurgy despite being vaccinated. If you were asymptomatic you wouldn't know without constant testing.

printer

But where does it all stop? I've managed 60 plus years of my life without ever thinking about wearing a mask for normal activities yet now it is common place even after many mandates have been lifted and of course personal choice is fine for those that prefer to wear one. The whole reason we have vaccinations is to curb the spread, lessen the seriousness of the illness and reduce strain on our healthcare systems. Once this has been achieved the plan was always to get back to near normality. We seem to have a certain "fear factor" that's crept in where some people are very concerned about crowded places and people without masks and this has obviously been driven by the constant media coverage and the many precautions and restrictions put in place by our health professionals. Yesterdays UK news had teachers unions shouting the odds about the risks teachers face and how students should all still wear masks. Then some medical doctor was quoted as saying masks should remain we cannot let our guard down now. Of course Boris along with other leaders around the world are trying to do what's right but also stick to their promises best they can but all the time the nay Sayers and doomsday folk start telling us its too much too soon and we are heading for the next wave it doesn't help the general publics morale.

Gozit

+1
Government will always be moving the goalposts, there will always be "another wave" on the way, each time we get close to a target the government changes it so they have an excuse to continue restrictions.

BristolUK

Yes, there's been a Pandemic. We didn't have one previously. Do you think that might have something t do with it?
Absolutely. But that first part - curb the spread - has that been achieved or does the spread of the Delta variant in the UK suggest not?
So nothing to do with how right from the very start 'herd immunity' was abandoned in the UK because it spread uncontrollably with people dying and how we were told very early on that there would be variants as the virus spread and how we now know that there is a variant spreading more dramatically than previously despite the protection offered by the vaccines.

You call it a fear factor I call it a let's not be hasty factor. Why would you not want to exercise a little caution and accept that while Covid spreads it throws up variants the effects of which are unknown as yet other than speeding up the spread? That's insanity.

Open things up again by all means but what's wrong with a bit of transition where mask wearing in certain situations continues?
Given the way BJ has handled Covid so far he'd be the very last politician any sensible person would listen to.
Heading for the next wave? Seriously?

caretaker

If people who questioned the need for precautions at the start of the pandemic don't believe in the necessity of protecting against vaccine-resistant variant strains there isn't much point in trying to convince them.

BristolUK

True enough but there is a point in putting the alternative case for others in case they don't see it. That graph is particularly shocking.

Danny B

I think most western countries are split on the "it's too soon" to open up argument.

On the one hand you have the people whose job involves sitting in front of a computer all day who have had the luxury of working from home, (perhaps they even bought a puppy during lockdown) and their quality of life has improved.
Now they are beginning to realize that in the next few months they could be called back to work and have to deal with the rush hour commute, and work 8hrs in their crappy office cubicle. These are the people that seem to be making the most noise regarding "it's too soon"

Then you have the non office workers, small business owners, construction, retail staff etc who are saying enough is enough. My business closed for 3 months, I spent $$$ on plexi glass, then we did some renos inside, plus one year of mask wearing and you guys want it extended?

I see it from both sides, doing my job from home has been a blast, not having to drive to work in the winter was amazing. However, my Wife works in retail and she has had it rough. Dealing with Karen's on a daily basis since March 2020 has been tough on her. Lots of arguments, fights, customers getting banned etc all over not wanting to wear a facking mask.

Now customers have the right to choose if they wear a mask or not is the best thing ever for retail staff.

caretaker

Calgary has ditched their mask bylaw.
https://calgary.ctvnews.ca/calgary-c...ylaw-1.5496922

caretaker

caretaker

BEVS

caretaker

Hopefully this shows up (Twitter link).

Danny B

LOL
I was folding clean laundry the other night and I almost put my Daughters knickers (if you can call them that) in the re-reusable mask pile Now that would have been awkward.