I was in Plymouth and Harrogate in September and I was surprised by the number of people who were wearing a mask in the local Morrisons. Think 75% did while in The Netherlands it was 5%. Perhaps things changed in the last 2 months.
Yeah, I was here in August and there was much more mask wearing.
This time I feel like a weirdo wearing a mask on public transport and in shops.
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I had people coming up to me here in Dutch supermarkets telling me, sir it is no longer required to wear them. I answered I know, you should see the look on their faces like I’m an idiot.
I did not care and now everybody has to wear them again, for me, nothing changed. 
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Polling I have seen suggests the majority of citizens in most countries are in favour of vaccine mandates, passes, etc. But the minority that is opposed is bitterly opposed.
My guess is that the numbers in the US would be closer to a 50/50.
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I had an Asian friend who lived in Rotherdam and when there were no mask restrictions some months ago, she continued wearing one and was abused by a number of locals while waiting for a bus. I simply cannot understand the resistance to wearing a mask. The vaccine is hugely meant to prevent you for being very sick. The mask however is meant for a different purpose, to hugely prevent you from catching it or to pass it on. Its not an either or. Is wearing as mask so severely infringing your human rights? Because thats what some are saying. Its just wearing a fucking mask.
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You’re taking my comment out of context. In order to be sure not to catch the virus, you do need medical grade PPE. Of course any face covering helps to reduce the spread and I didn’t say otherwise. Trolling?
I your cutting transmission by 53% then that’s a marked reduction don’t you think? Any other view is just bonkers, its like climate change denial. It’s there in numbers.
I guess the study was vanilla.
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Yeah that is about right. I’d say it’s around 65% in favour and 35% against, with slight variations from one country to the next.
We here will vote next week-end on a new law in order to confirm our current sanitary pass rules. If accepted, it will have the potential to be maintained for the next ten years. I expect a yes, maybe at 60%-40%, because on one hand, a large majority understands that there is a need to do something about the epidemics. On the other hand, the opponents have put a lot of effort and money in trying to convict people that this law is dangerous for our democracy going forward. They have a few valid points to be fair and, despite of being vaccinated and generally approving the current rules, I’m not yet decided how I’ll vote.
I honestly don’t know what the answer is here. I’m not keen on the idea but then from a health and safety perspective it’s a no brainer.
I guess if we think that those that are most against the passports and restrictions are those that also refuse to get vaccinated then perhaps they should be singled out? I’m still not sure.
I do think governments need to make policies for the good of the majority especially in health matters. What I do not hope to see is people shaming people for choosing not to get vaccinated. I cannot understand in whatever world why these people would choose not to get vaccinated. But they exercise their choice which they are entitled to. So while they also have to bear the consequences of their choices thru public policies, they should not be subjected to private bullying like being shamed on social media etc which I can see an increased trend in time to come.
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Yes it is. I was talking about not getting the virus and the best way to do that is with medical grade PPE not a cheap cloth mask. Yes that HELPS but doesn’t ensure (if anything actually can).
I am. Don’t make vaccination mandatory but make it mandatory to actually live a normal life. Pubs, bars, restaurants, cinemas, public transport etc. Hey presto the vax rate goes up.
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yep, so what’s your excuse?
You’ve stated you’re quite happy to “fu** it” in full knowledge that you may be transmitting the virus (should you catch it) to 50% more people because you refuse to wear a rag across your face.
That’s exactly what is happening in Europe and hey presto, there are riots.
School run this morning. On the usual pinch point into school, where people are pushed together to get through a small gate, I find myself behind a woman I haven’t seen before talking to her friend.
“…yeah yeah I know it’s really hard at the minute because my husband has covid, so I’m having to do the school run and then run to work on time…”.
No mask. Yabbering on spraying spit everywhere in a throng of people.
“If your husband has covid, don’t you think you should pop a mask on?” I say.
“What?” She says.
“Your husband has Covid - you should put a mask on. There are people on the school run who can’t have a vaccine.”
“I haven’t got any symptoms” she says, starting to get cross. “I’m fine.”
“As far as you know. The people around you who can’ have a vaccine won’t be fine”.
“You don’t have to wear a mask anymore. That’s the rules”
At which point we went our separate ways towards different classrooms.
So that’s the ‘fuck it’ mentality you’re endorsing. Stood near me was a woman I know who has cancer and can’t have the vaccine.
It isn’t getting back to normal. It’s complete ignorance and disregard for other people and a big part of why 150ish people are still dying every day.
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Meant to write comorbidities. Illnesses, of a patient, chronic or severe, that add to, complicate the the patients health issues with another illness he/she is infected with.
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I’m in the habit now of popping a mask on but it is becoming increasingly common where I’m the only one wearing one at an indoor gathering. You feel like a tool so you take it off, not least because it feels a bit rude to chat with someone who’s not wearing mask whilst keeping yours on.
It feels like the elephant in the room. There’s unspoken judgements being made…going both ways no doubt. It feels awkward so I’ve frequently succumbed and taken it off if I’ve got into a conversation with someone. Ironically, the type of face to face interaction where it’s most important to wear one.
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100%. had a meeting with a Client last week. 6 of us in a room and I was the only one wearing a mask. I was extremely conscious of it and felt quite uncomfortable, not because of the mask but because I wasn’t following the lead.
Stuck with it though.
here’s the best bit. One of the participants was a health and safety advisor.
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In that instance, I would wear a mask (actually probably stay home and pull jnr out of school) There’s a difference between trying to get back to normal and being utterly irresponsible.
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Was at a gig Thursday night. Thousand people in close proximity after pretty much all of us had been in the local pubs all afternoon / evening. Not a mask in sight.