Does Wearing A Face Mask In Public Places Create A False Sense Of Security?

[naomi24]

The end of queuing for shops, the removal of directional markings, and people seemingly more relaxed about keeping their distance from others, it seems to me that social distancing isn’t being anywhere near so rigidly observed now that face coverings are mandatory and I suspect that masking up might be the reason. What do you think?

[dannyk13]

I think that because you are wearing a face covering does not mean that you should ignore social distancing.

[Zacs-Master]

I’ve only been to Tesco Express and a local shop (for local people) and people were still social distancing. What experience do you have of them not doing so, Naomi?

[woofgang]

Naomi, I think that is the reason for the face coverings....to be able to be as safe as possible in circumstances where you can't social distance (stay 2m apart).

[Hopkirk]

Social distancing at 2 metres was impossible in shops before, and I see little change now masks are being worn.

[KARL]

All the informed comment/advice I have come across is that distancing (2m minimum) is what really matters, face coverings are a brake on an (unknowingly) infected person spreading the virus by the coarsest means and unless of highest clinical quality a mask does not prevent infection by aerosol at less than 2m. Separately, the suggestion/indication is that a significant part of the persistent spread of Covid in the UK is due to resistance to following the precautions - this is what you are observing and I have seen it too, some of it extremely blatant.

[dannyk13]

The 2m rule was changed some while ago to 1m plus, denoting a minimum of 1m.

[youngmafbog]

It is highly unlikely face mask work. People are not using them correctly nor are they changing them every 20 mins or so. Wearing them round your neck or stuffing them in your pocket also pretty much renders them useless. As for face coverings, well no use whatsoever.

And on top of that, as you say people are reducing social distancing it seems. My wife said the Tesco Express the other day was a total free for all.

[diddlydo]

It's still 2m where possible and supermarkets still have 2m markings, signs etc. However, I completely agree with Naomi that the concept of distancing has been on a downward spiral since the mandatory wearing of stupid masks (many of which aren't even being worn properly). No wonder that transmission appears to be increasing.

[youngmafbog]

And I forgot to mention. Face masks if not changed regularly and worn for long periods of time can become dangerous with bacterial build up.

A doctors who wears them for ops words not mine.

[youngmafbog]

"No wonder that transmission appears to be increasing."

The problem is we dont know that. There is so much mis information and the Government is being far from transparent so for all we know (and its most likely) the increase is simply down to more testing. Test more you will find more. We were not testing for some time so comparison is pointless and in fact damned misleading.

[Bazile]

Well, the supermarket we frequent has little or no social distancing going on

Further , there is no limit to the number of shoppers allowed in

[woofgang]

YMB. as PP has said many times, we CAN tell the difference between more cases found because of more testing and rate of infection going up. Its called percentages. Test 500 and find 1 case then a week later test 1000 and find two cases, rate not going up. Test 500 and find 1 case, then a week later, test 1000 and find 3 cases, rate going up.

[Old_Geezer]

Most likely. Something must account for the increase in infection rate in Scotland.

[Boto]

I have noticed this last week in supermarkets that more people were wearing masks even though in Wales we don’t have to - yet. I also noticed that social distancing for most of the mask wearers was a thing of the past, even for the 3 who wore masks over their mouths only and the ones who pulled them down to speak.

[Peter Pedant]

thank you woofie
hot afternoon - did ya do anything good?

the real question missed by the OP is
do they work?

as set the question is - if you wear a mask do you work harder to fulfil the other recommendations
OR
if you wear a mask - do you think - oh sad it, someone else can do the rest

and I think the answer is- - - we still dont know

[Peter Pedant]

// The problem is we dont know that.//
yes we do
the seropositivity rates ( have had the infection or something like it) are around 1% int the UK
this is peanuts compared to Bombay slums ( 25%) - but not many indians have died

and we have absolutely no idea why

[naomi24]

PP, //the real question missed by the OP is
do they work? //

No it isn't. The question is as stated.

[Zacs-Master]

PP, if they don’t work then the OP is even more relevant i.e. social distancing should be being observed.

[Old_Geezer]

"this is peanuts compared to Bombay slums ( 25%) - but not many indians have die and we have absolutely no idea why"

Obvious. We clearly have to eat more curries. I recommend a minimum of three a day, with Bombay duck of course.

[ichkeria]

I don’t think it has made any difference.
The criterion for contact tracing has been people you’ve been within two metres of for several minutes. Not someone who’s pushed in front of you for the frozen chicken.
The number of cases nationwide is actually stable or even falling. It’s local “spikes”, most unlikely to have been caused by random people not keeping their 2 metres, which have got the headlines