We have now been living in the throngs of the COVID-19 pandemic for over a year, and yet there still seems to be some people who are refusing to follow the official government and WHO advice. This is particularly the case with mask wearing.
People have consistently been refusing to wear masks throughout the pandemic (I completely understand that there are people who are exempt, and this is in no way directed at them). There is strong evidence to suggest that the proper wearing of a mask can significantly reduce the risk of spreading or catching the virus.
It particularly frustrates me when on public transport that there are a significant number of people who still do not wear masks, or who wear them and either have their nose sticking out the top of them or worse, have them only covering their chin. Completely ineffectual.
I appreciate that masks are hot and particularly as we are now in the summer months they can be uncomfortable, however, as someone who has to wear a mask for the best part of 12 hours per working day, I can assure you that this actually becomes easier. It is only because we are not used to it that it feels strange and uncomfortable. No, it does not stop you being able to breathe properly, it in fact prevents you from becoming infected with a virus that can stop you being able to breathe at all.
Advocating the wearing of masks is one this, proper mask hygiene and etiquette is quite another. If your mask is only covering your chin or not covering your mouth and nose, it is completely ineffectual. It will not protect you from catching the virus, nor will it prevent you spreading the virus to anyone else.
"But I don't have any symptoms and haven't been around anyone with COVID." - you may be asymptomatic and still have the virus and you can spread it to others, similarly other people can spread it to you.
"I've been vaccinated, surely this means that I don't need to wear a mask anymore" - being vaccinated does not stop you catching the virus, it helps to prevent you catching the virus as it provides your body with additional information and antibodies so that it can fight off the virus and stop you getting it as strong as you perhaps otherwise could. Even vaccinated you can pass the virus on to others. There are growing instances of people who are fully vaccinated catching COVID and becoming hospitalised. Without even needing to reference the growing scientific data on this I can tell you that I have a friend who's son and daughter-in-law are both fully vaccinated, their infant child became very ill and turned out to have COVID and was hospitalised, both parents also tested positive for COVID; additionally, a colleague of mine who is fully vaccinated is currently in a coma in intensive care due to COVID - he is fully vaccinated, only 35, fit and healthy with no underlying health issues. Please note, that I am not writing this to stop people being vaccinated, far from it, I am merely pointing out the fact that the having the vaccine does not stop you getting the virus. Having the vaccine and wearing a mask will significantly reduce your chances of getting the virus.
Whilst I am fully aware that the government regulations of mandatory face masks and social distancing are coming to an end on 19th July (a deeply flawed decision in my opinion), I will be continuing to wear my mask in all public environments for the foreseeable future. You may think that I am being over cautious, perhaps even neurotic, but I have seen first hand the devastating consequences of catching COVID and frankly I would not which this illness on anyone, it is vile. I will be continuing to wear the mask for two reasons, firstly I do not want to catch COVID (selfish I know, but you really don't want to get this disease. Besides, I love the taste and smell of food, why would I want to risk losing my senses); secondly, and perhaps more importantly I want to protect the vulnerable people in society from catching this deadly disease. This is again perhaps a selfish motive as I want to ensure that the vulnerable people in my family are not affected by COVID, I want to be able to hug them again without fear of risking their health, I want to be able to get back to normality quicker.
I know that I sound like I am living in fear of the virus. I am not. Yes, I don't want to catch COVID and I am actively avoiding certain situations and perhaps being more cautious than others in order to try to best mitigate the risk. Why would anyone want to risk catching this disease. Furthermore, if we all work together to get rid of the virus, the risk should start to fall away. I personally believe that we will be living with COVID forever, it will be like SARS, MERS, H5N1 and the whole host of epidemics that we have seen over the last few decades as precursors to the pandemic. They have never gone away, their virulence has reduced over time and we have found vaccines for them and these vaccines now form part of the annual flu vaccine. I believe this will happen with COVID too. The problem is that COVID is not just here, it is everywhere, it is spreading and it is changing into new and (in some cases) more virulent strains. These new strains could potentially have an impact on the effectiveness of the vaccines.
We absolutely need to open our businesses again and we absolutely must get "back to normal" as living in lockdown is not only crippling our economy but it is having a devastating impact on the health and well-being of our nation. We need to open up as we humans are social creatures who crave the interaction and connection with others. We need stimulus from other people and also from other sources such as going for a meal, a drink, to the theatre or cinema, or even to a football stadium to see our national team play in the most important match for a generation. We need to do all those things not only for the economy, but for our own sense of self, our well being, and most importantly our health. It is not normal for us to be cooped up for so long. We need to get out, get moving and start enjoying being part of a global society again. We just need to do it all carefully.
The government's current policy of going from a decent level of caution to gay abandon overnight is utterly reckless in my opinion. Even just from the matches held at the Euros where tens of thousands of fans gathered in stadiums with no masks and no social distancing, there has been a marked rise in confirmed COVID cases - hopefully these will not lead to a rise in hospitalisations. I hope that people will treat others with respect and courtesy as we come out of these restrictions but I fear this will not be the case. The restrictions are not due to be lifted until 18th July, and already at the start of June (before the changes were even announced) I was verbally abused on a train for wearing a mask as I was "brain-washed" and "under the deceitful control of the government" and a "f***ing bitch" for being a believer in the policies that were "taking away their liberties". No, I am just following the guidance and protecting myself and those around me that I care about.
I am a great believer in free speech and freedom of opinion. You are completely free to disagree with me, to have your own opinion, to even think that I am an idiot for believing in my opinion. That is your right. However, I am entitled to my opinion and I am entitled to believe in something different to you and to disagree with you entirely. We can have opposite beliefs to each other and still exist together and behave courteously together. No one has the right to shout at another person in the face, to intimidate them because they have a different opinion, to verbally or physically assault anyone over a difference of opinion. That is just being an arsehole.
I hope that as things start to open up we can all respect each other. Respect that some people might not feel comfortable with you standing so close to them if you don't have a mask on; respect that some people might want to move further away to a more open area or to an area where people are wearing masks; respect that some people might not want to join you for a drink at a busy pub quite yet; respect that some people might not feel comfortable attending large events. We all have our beliefs, the things we do to keep ourselves safe and the things that we feel comfortable with or not. Lets respect each other, even if we do not agree or fully understand the other person's point of view, give them the space to emerge from lockdown in their own way.
When I wear a mask in public, or decline an invitation to a party or to come inside:
🔵 I want you to know that I am educated enough to know that I could be asymptomatic and still give you the virus.
🔵 No, I don’t “live in fear” of the virus; I just want to be part of the solution, not the problem.
🔵 I don’t feel like the “government is controlling me” any more than when I wear a seat belt, don't drive drunk, obey the speed limit, or stop at a red light.
🔵 The world doesn’t revolve around me. It’s not all about me and my comfort.
🔵 If we all could follow these simple steps, the virus could be under control, and businesses back open.
🔵 Wearing a mask doesn’t make me weak, scared, stupid, or even “controlled.” It makes me considerate.
🔵 When you think about how you look, how uncomfortable it is, or what others think of you, just imagine someone close to you - a child, a father, a mother, aunt, uncle, or grandparent - choking on a respirator, alone without you or any family member allowed at bedside.
🔵 Ask yourself if you could have sucked it up a little for them.
The bullet points are copied and pasted from a post from my cousin who is a nurse. Consider copying them and sharing on your network.
Wearing a mask is not political. It’s public health!
Link to the latest UK Government guidance: https://tinyurl.com/Government-COVID-Guidance