Face masks ????

[roving-eye]

Face masks will be made compulsory on all public transport in England from June 15, the Transport Secretary has said.

Travel operators could refuse to admit passengers if they are not covering their face from next week, Grant Shapps added.

He said the new rules will come under the National Rail conditions of travel, and the Public Service Vehicle Accessibility Regulations for buses, meaning British Transport Police could impose fines if people do not comply.

Speaking at today’s Downing Street briefing Mr Shapps said: "It is condition of travel. You cannot travel unless you are wearing a face covering.

"There will also be other powers so it could ultimately lead to fines. I very much hope we won't be in that situation."

He stressed passengers do not need to wear surgical masks, but ones which can be made at home.

Previously, government advice urged the public to wear a face covering in crowded and enclosed places, but it was not mandatory.

In Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon said today she thought implementing compulsory face mask would be “inevitable” in areas where social distancing is difficult, although she added no final decision had yet been made.

Following the Transport Secretary's decision to enforce face masks on public transport, Dr Antonio Lazzarino, of the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, UCL, questioned if the move will encourage more people onto transport raising the risk of transmission.

Dr Lazzarino said: “The issue of face coverings in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic is very controversial. While no ad-hoc studies with a correct design have been carried out, it is now commonly accepted that face coverings provide very little protection, if any.

“However, there are many potential side effects of face coverings from a clinical and epidemiological point of view, although none of them has been studied. But one clear, logical, widely-accepted side effect is that face coverings may give an excuse to easing other more important measures...

"So the questions for public transport are:

Will more people use the tube/buses because they will feel more secure given that everybody wears a face covering? This will increase the risk of transmission.
Will people be able not to contaminate their hands and the handrails by not touching their face coverings and not touching the handrails while standing inside buses and trains? This seems to be impossible to me. Face coverings can therefore be a vehicle of infection, rather than a barrier.”

[local]

People will touch their faces whatever.

Masks can never be perfect nothing can,
but if I save someone from getting coronavirus even myself then just do it.

[Toodles McGinty]

Like most aspects of our handling of this pandemic, I can't understand why it wasn't done ages ago.

Same with the quarantining of people coming from overseas. I've heard the official reason for it, but it sounds rather hollow to me. Should have been done straight away.

I've managed to avoid public transport so far, but if I do use it, I'll certainly be wearing a mask. Be happy that others are too.

I reckon people wearing masks are the least secure. Pretty sure they are very aware of the situation and are trying to avoid contamination like, well, the plague.

[Alikado]

Like most aspects of our handling of this pandemic, I can't understand why it wasn't done ages ago.

Same with the quarantining of people coming from overseas. I've heard the official reason for it, but it sounds rather hollow to me. Should have been done straight away.

I've managed to avoid public transport so far, but if I do use it, I'll certainly be wearing a mask. Be happy that others are too.

I reckon people wearing masks are the least secure. Pretty sure they are very aware of the situation and are trying to avoid contamination like, well, the plague.

Like most things recently everything seems to be back to front, surely like test, test, test track & trace, quarantine we start off doing it then find out It's too hard so stop then find out it works elsewhere then try to play catchup.

[Toodles McGinty]

Like most things recently everything seems to be back to front, surely like test, test, test track & trace, quarantine we start off doing it then find out It's too hard so stop then find out it works elsewhere then try to play catchup.

According to the Graun, the test, track & trace system won't be fully operational until September or October. Should be ready for the middle of the second wave.

Story here.

[said]

People will touch their faces whatever.

Masks can never be perfect nothing can,
but if I save someone from getting coronavirus even myself then just do it.

Ha!Ha! I am going to go on a train wearing a burkha - I will have my face covered?? any other problems, I will just say I am a Muslim transvestite. This is going to be fun!

[local]

Ha!Ha! I am going to go on a train wearing a burkha - I will have my face covered?? any other problems, I will just say I am a Muslim transvestite. This is going to be fun!

Please post pictures.

[jamyramy]

Ha!Ha! I am going to go on a train wearing a burkha - I will have my face covered?? any other problems, I will just say I am a Muslim transvestite. This is going to be fun!

haha you know was only thinking similar the other day,that burkhas werea more human looking than the darksides surgical mask look.so dehumanising.so fashion gurus could have a fashion trend out there!ps youd never get away wth calling yourself a muslim transvestite,in that micro mini ,metallic top with your falsies on show an bejazlled eyebrows,an knee highs ,their ladies are far more sensually demure!haha.

[*concerned*]

So, for a DIY mask, if you can see daylight through the material, or breathe easily through it, then you can easily breathe IN anything airborne such as Covid19 virus, and also breathe OUT the Covid19 virus

A conical coffee filter offers a LOT more protection, than say a face covering made from a T-shirt or similar, and apparently denim makes a fairly reasonable protective face covering, about 50% effective only though it seems.

Then there is the issue of how we wear one, how we remove it, and do we reuse the mask without washing/cleaning it in between uses.

For me, its not a straight forward issue as to if or not a DIY face covering or DIY mask offers any protection at all ?

Far better to 'spend some money' and buy some proper masks and use them correctly.

[Toodles McGinty]

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I guess we'll all look like letterboxes and bank robbers.

[sandGroundZero]

Ref: *concerned* post #9;
The logic appears to be that masks do not protect the wearer. However, masks may limit the range droplets containing exhaled viral particles, thereby mitigating the less than ideal social distancing available on public transport.

[Alikado]

Ref: *concerned* post #9;
The logic appears to be that masks do not protect the wearer. However, masks may limit the range droplets containing exhaled viral particles, thereby mitigating the less than ideal social distancing available on public transport.

A 'Home Made' mask may actually put the wearer at risk, if the mask is worn for a length of time the mask will become damp from the inside and if the mask ends up with droplets / virus on it it could be absorbed into the mask and inhaled by the wearer. Better to only wear it in potential risk areas.

[Toodles McGinty]

A 'Home Made' mask may actually put the wearer at risk, if the mask is worn for a length of time the mask will become damp from the inside and if the mask ends up with droplets / virus on it it could be absorbed into the mask and inhaled by the wearer. Better to only wear it in potential risk areas.

I wear one in a shop, then it's straight in the bin when I go out. After using antibac.

I haven't been in the unfortunate situation where I've been too close to anyone whilst out. Apart from the stupid cyclists that I mentioned ages ago. On several occasions, I've gone out, seen the crowds milling around, and gone straight back in again. I'm avoiding 'Covidiots' until we're down to threat level 2 or 1.

I always carry a surgical mask in my bag or pocket, just in case.

[gazaprop]

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I guess we'll all look like letterboxes and bank robbers.

Stop it Toodles - you know full well Bo Jo has the copyright on those two!

[Toodles McGinty]

Stop it Toodles - you know full well Bo Jo has the copyright on those two!

Not any more! I just can't make up my mind which one I want to look like. I may alternate.