It appears that the government has now decided that face masks have some efficacy and are suggesting it would be a condition when lock down ends for workers to wear them and when using Public Transport
Our London Mayor is now saying he will INSIST the public wear them. About 10 days ago his LT workers were crying out for them and he told them,at the time, they were not necessary but gave them gloves instead.
"I am a bit lost with what we are saying here, TTT. Are we saying that if we cough a droplet with viruses on it onto the inside of a mask , the next cough could push just the virus through the mask without the droplet it was on? If that is the case, I didn’t know that. " - yes, the water soaks into the material hence they get sodden, then the actual viruses are left on the material, they live for a matter of hours and will get pushed out.
Sadiq Khan is not insisting folk wear masks in public.
On his Twitter account, he said,"I'm lobbying the Government to advise people to wear non-medical face coverings where it’s impossible to keep a safe social distance. These would not be medical masks - which must be reserved for health and care workers who desperately need them."
The government have said they will be led by the science and I hope this continues. If Sadiq Khan wishes to give this advice then he is welcome to do so.
No, woofgang, I have taken what I know from several sources I have read. Most of the post you are querying was taken almost verbatim from the FT, which I can try and find again if you wish, but I have read similar elsewhere too. I read up quite a bit when some on here claimed they were useless at stopping the spread.
can I suggest that if you want to read up, you add the word "research" to whatever medical or scientific term you are using? That way you stand a better chance of getting the information first hand and not somone else's interpretation of it.
As TheCorbyLoon says, Mr Khan has yet again been mis quoted.
I heard from his mouth (twice as the daft interviewer didnt seem to get it the first time)this morning on Sky. He was very clear NOT masks but use a bandana or scarf etc.
He is trying to protect his workers. Currently 14 TFL workers have died and death attributed to Covid19. These are the real unsung heroes keeping the country rolling who seem to be overlooked in favour of the 'on a pedestal ' NHS.
I applaud the man for trying, and you wont hear that often.
Just to be clear, woofgang, I have no bias whatsoever, and would be delighted to hear that we are safer without masks as I don't particularly like wearing one. However, as I said, most of what I read tells me they do help in some way.
It's obvious that face masks offer some extra protection to the wearer and/or people around them. If they didn't doctors and nurses wouldn't be wearing them.
If covering the mouth and nose doesn't protect the wearer - and I'm not convinced it doesn't - it goes some way to protecting those around him. Too many 'experts' on AB.
If a covid positive person was going to cough near you, and you could choose whether you were both wearing a masks or whether you weren't, which would you choose peter?
If you say anything other than I'd rather we had masks, you're lying.