Relaxation of Restrictions, Part XII *Read OP For Mod Warnings*

You do understand that most people use them properly though and that they are effective if used properly? Projecting your own habits onto others to draw a conclusion isn't correct.

The only proper way to wear a face mask is in a surgical theatre or dealing with hazardous material.

Wearing a face mast to prevent the transmission of the Omicron variant is a f*cking nonsense.

People just really want to feel like they can control this thing… it’s not controllable and we shouldn’t try to at this stage!

When everyone was inside with their families over Christmas, unmasked you mean 🙄

I wouldn't class myself as antimask as such, i put one on going into a hospitality setting last night and i think I was the only one by the looks i got, thankfully. I don't see that it was an effective measure for covid, out of respect for others i would still observe it, when it was introduced it made no noticeable difference, i also worry that going forward if it has worked for the common cold, flu etc these will become more serious illnesses, we all were used to catching them every year, our bodies built up immunity,going forward that has been lessened the last couple of years,with very little of it about, it probably means that people will be more ill going forward with these due to having less immunity, avoiding illness has it's own consequences.

Facts not feelings!

Personally I think masks do work, but…. Only if used properly, and unfortunately from what I’ve seen, only about 60% of population wear them well. I work in retail so I’ve seen everything. Some wear them under nose, under chin, gaping at the side so much I can see their mouth. Others put them on without adjusting them or pulling them down below chin. Some probably wearing for weeks because they are so dirty and nearly threadbare. I have seen people pick them off the ground and put it on.

some people on here saying “oh I don’t bother wearing one in shops anymore and no one says anything”. We don’t say anything because we are sick and tired of saying it to people and most just say they are exempt. I get verbal abuse everyday from customers for not trying to get people to wear masks.

I wear a mask for about 7/8 hours a day, only take it off for a drink and food, is it so hard for people to just wear one for a few minutes going into a shop, even if it’s just so I won’t have to put up with abuse everyday.

Have you considered the possibility that you already have had Covid ?

I think masks should no longer be mandated anywhere except perhaps on public transport. IMO we have moved past that stage of this pandemic. I dont want to wear a mask, but I do believe they work based on the science I have read on their efficacy. The people who dont believe that masks work, DESPITE the science are those I would consider in the anti-masker, anti-vaxxer camp.

I worked in retail for periods during the last 2 years. It was torture having the mask on for 8 hours and most of the lunch break. Plus another couple of hours commuting on the bus. 10-11 hours a day, 5 days a week wearing a mask. I look forward to their downfall.

Also, people have been giving out about folks not wearing their masks correctly over the last couple of years. Has it not occured that they don't actually want to wear masks and just do it because it's mandated?

That discussion about masks is getting tedious as masks are soon going to be redundant. Less and less people wearing them so a natural process of eventual illimination.

More importantly are the restrictions imposed by countries on an EU level in the form of DCCs with a mandatory booster. I wonder how long they are going to stay given Omicron. And if you will still be able to fly unboostered with a test when we get to summer. Will the DCC be abolished or pauzed?

It has gone noticeably quieter alright and the discussion shifted to masks as it's the most visible remaining restriction still impacting everyone.

Has the legal requirement been updated, or is it still to lapse next week does anyone know?

Personally I think it's great that this thread has gone quieter as attention moves (per the Indo this morning) to far more important matters like the spiraling cost of living and the ridiculous Golfgate decision (another "do as we say, not as we do" scenario - but interesting to contrast to the UK where Boris is just barely hanging on and lots of others have already resigned).

If we can get rid of the mandatory mask requirement (which are largely ineffective anyway as we've seen despite almost 100% compliance) then we can finally say that Covid is (hopefully) largely behind us.

I'd agree with this. It's still almost universal in shops and I think the confusion around things like "is a coffee shop retail or hospitality" has people erring on the side of caution, or maybe it's just become institutionalised.

When the legal requirement drops, I really hope we'll get back to real normality quickly but there will certainly be a noticeable percentage who'll keep wearing them (which is fine BTW)