Wearing face masks in confined spaces

Asking people to wear face masks in confined spaces; in particular public buildings such as shops has a number of plus points.
It is generally agreed that face masks offer very little protection to the wearer but by wearing a mask it protects others nearby from coughs and sneezes which we are told makes a large difference to the amount of contagious air that the wearer emits.
Also, seeing other members of the public wearing masks gives a sense of reassurance to people when in public buildings.

Simply, it does absolutely no harm but might help.

The counter argument is that it might divert masks from the NHS. That is a consideration however even a scarf over the nose and face is of value.

Why the contribution is important

See above

by Rodduncan on May 05, 2020 at 01:20PM

Current Rating

Average rating: 3.0
Based on: 18 votes

Comments

  • Posted by Ed May 05, 2020 at 13:28

    This is a non-brainer - the First Minister shoaled order all people within Scotland to wear a face covering. Many Asian countries that have made good progress wear masks.

    I don't know why we are even debating this point.
  • Posted by Clayton41 May 05, 2020 at 13:28

    No-- they give false sense of security and as we have not worn them until now why introduce them ?
    It is debatable if they have any effect ....
  • Posted by kenmac May 05, 2020 at 13:29

    the evidence that masks helps is very limited. I don't find them reassuring, in fact my observation is that people that wear masks are often less considerate towards distancing. It can give a false sense of security.
  • Posted by Ranger2dog May 05, 2020 at 13:30

    Good idea why not
  • Posted by TheGardenMaster May 05, 2020 at 13:30

    Not necessarily PPE type medical masks but washable cotton ones with a replaceable filter. Have seen then online for about £16 but sure they can be mass produced for sale at lower price.
  • Posted by gmb May 05, 2020 at 13:37

    Actually, there is a risk of harm - it is far more difficult to avoid touching your face when wearing a mask (especially if you wear glasses), and furthermore, how do you keep this bit of cloth pressed to your nose and mouth free from contamination over the course of a day? Health professionals don and remove masks in a very specific way - the general public will find that harder, and since they could not access medical style masks, it would be even harder to do so safely with various cloth face coverings.

    As someone with asthma who is certainly concerned about catching coronavirus, I would feel much more at risk wearing a mask in many situations. (I concede that the balance of risks might be different on public transport where you are in close quarters with others for a protracted period. But in contexts where you are moving around, and, crucially, having to touch surfaces, I fear the risk of infection from handling the mask would outweight the benefits.)
  • Posted by markmcgeever85 May 05, 2020 at 13:52

    This is a terrible idea. Face masks give the wearer a false sense of security and encourage them to touch their face as they slip or irritate. This becoming a social expectation also stigmatises people who can't tolerate them because of asthma or psychological reasons. There's no evidence they reduce transmission and if you are serious about following scientific advice you can't introduce this sort of measure.
  • Posted by gfc2201 May 06, 2020 at 12:12

    Can't understand why there is resistance to the idea. Most experts agree the measure would be marginal in terms of personal protection. However, most agree it would be beneficial to prevent onward transmission. When we are tinkering at the edges even small benefits must give us some room to make lessen restrictions elsewhere.
  • Posted by JMack May 06, 2020 at 21:22

    I know that the benefits of face coverings/masks are disputed, but they are increasingly being used by countries coming out of lockdown in Europe, and their use is already prevalent in Asia. I believe that, to be effective in mitigating the spread of droplets from sneezes, coughs and breaths, their use in a population needs to be more or less universal. So, I would urge that the current recommendation to consider wearing a face covering in potentially crowded or busy situations like shops and public transport should be toughened up to mandatory status, with the customary range of enforcement provisions.
    Why the contribution is important
    I think that the wearing of face coverings/masks in appropriate situations is important because:

    1. It is beneficial in preventing the spread of the virus.
    2. It will publicly and visibly reinforce community commitment to a disciplined approach to emerging from the crisis.
    3. It will be acknowledged by the our neighbours in Europe and the wider World as a reassurance that we are taking the threats of a "second wave" seriously and responsibly.
  • Posted by WBRnotes May 08, 2020 at 20:44

    I think it would help to have everyone wearing masks in shops and good quality masks should be mandatory in places such as hairdressers where the risk will be high. Given people can be asymptomatic and still pass on the virus ( I think) and people can cough without warning, wearing masks in shops/confined spaces, including workplaces would surely help reduce infection.

    I think Singapore involved the army in making and distributing a good quantity of surgical masks to every household. Might something similar be possible here ? And yes, I know getting PPE to hospitals and care homes etc has proved extremely challenging here. Just a thought.
Log in or register to add comments and rate ideas

Idea topics