People with asthma in England fear being harassed and denied services for not being able to wear a mask

[MarkMyWords]

Everyone overlooks that the chances, statistically, of getting infected is very tiny, even in high risk areas, even among elderly. I figured it as approx. .009 for myself maybe less. and I live near a major city. Dying is much lower. 97% of people will end up getting sick and dying from something totally different. This is a broad generalization, of course. Socially, the situation is becoming a hysteria on both sides. Fear and safety vs. courage and individuality. I think people err in believing that if they are fine wearing a mask all day then everyone can and should. Everyone's reactions are different, and saying it is only psychological is to pretend that these issues don't` matter. Anxiety and other fears matter. Especially to young kids who do not understand the need, and masks perhaps affect their minds later in life, possibly, for the worse.

It is one thing to wear a mask because it is necessary where you work and getting paid, and very different experience wearing one in leisure time, shopping, or whatever. I know that this doesn't matter so much but the large black or white masks are very unattractive, ugly.

It is not unconstitutional by any stretch. . my 2 cents,

[toomuchbaloney]

Hysteria on both sides? Really? That sounds silly. We're in the midst of a global pandemic and we're trying really hard to not kill a million Americans before Christmas by keeping restaurants and bars open for the economy. What hysteria are you talking about on the side of public health? I would tend to call that emotion frustration.

[GrumpyRN, NP]

Mandatory mask wearing has been active in Scotland for 2 weeks, it only started in England today.

We are taking it very seriously as this headline from the BBC shows;

"First person fined for not wearing face mask in Jedburgh shop."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-53523574

[HiddencatBSN, BSN]

10 hours ago, Mywords1 said:

Everyone overlooks that the chances, statistically, of getting infected is very tiny, even in high risk areas, even among elderly. I figured it as approx. .009 for myself maybe less. and I live near a major city. Dying is much lower. 97% of people will end up getting sick and dying from something totally different. This is a broad generalization, of course. Socially, the situation is becoming a hysteria on both sides. Fear and safety vs. courage and individuality. I think people err in believing that if they are fine wearing a mask all day then everyone can and should. Everyone's reactions are different, and saying it is only psychological is to pretend that these issues don't` matter. Anxiety and other fears matter. Especially to young kids who do not understand the need, and masks perhaps affect their minds later in life, possibly, for the worse.

It is one thing to wear a mask because it is necessary where you work and getting paid, and very different experience wearing one in leisure time, shopping, or whatever. I know that this doesn't matter so much but the large black or white masks are very unattractive, ugly.

It is not unconstitutional by any stretch. . my 2 cents,

So here’s the thing- my risk of catching and further dying of covid (you didn’t touch on risk or permanent damage that folks who are recovered are experiencing) but there are people who are at higher risk due to age or co-morbid condition. My wearing a mask overall reduces spread and reduces the risk to those who are more vulnerable.

Think of it like wearing a seatbelt- yes, a seatbelt protects me. But it also protects the other occupants of the car FROM me because in an accident my body could become an object that hits others if I am not restrained.

“Just do you” doesn’t really work when our actions or lack of action have an impact on others: we should concern ourselves with protecting the vulnerable especially when the actions we take to protect them are not risky or harmful to ourselves. Those experiencing anxiety or distress from wearing masks can try different types of masks or practice relaxation techniques while increasing their wear time. With there appearing to be no lasting immunity from infection and vaccines still in trial, and the need for people to work in the absence of a strong social-economic safety net to keep more people home, wearing masks in public is likely going to be our new normal for the foreseeable future and desensitization rather than complete exemption should be the priority.

I think it’s interesting that people have more concern for a manageable response to mask wearing than the people who are at risk for death or long term sequelae from covid. Yes, anxiety and psychological distress is a very real thing (and widespread mask use allows us to have some of the social interaction that keeps us mentally healthy) but **** everyone who’s over 65, has asthma, is immunocompromised, draws the statistical short straw and is young and healthy, etc etc?

As far as your risk assessment goes....part of how we get it lower and keep it lower ARE mask and social distancing measures. Also....3% mortality to something we have no immunity to is really high. That’s vastly higher than the flu.

[Guest219794]

20 hours ago, Mywords1 said:

Everyone overlooks that the chances, statistically, of getting infected is very tiny, even in high risk areas, even among elderly. I figured it as approx. .009 for myself maybe less. and I live near a major city. Dying is much lower. 97% of people will end up getting sick and dying from something totally different. This is a broad generalization, of course. Socially, the situation is becoming a hysteria on both sides. Fear and safety vs. courage and individuality. I think people err in believing that if they are fine wearing a mask all day then everyone can and should. Everyone's reactions are different, and saying it is only psychological is to pretend that these issues don't` matter. Anxiety and other fears matter. Especially to young kids who do not understand the need, and masks perhaps affect their minds later in life, possibly, for the worse.

It is one thing to wear a mask because it is necessary where you work and getting paid, and very different experience wearing one in leisure time, shopping, or whatever. I know that this doesn't matter so much but the large black or white masks are very unattractive, ugly.

It is not unconstitutional by any stretch. . my 2 cents,

Tell me more about the courage and individuality you speak of.

[sevensonnets]

Courage is choosing to do what's right.

[HiddencatBSN, BSN]

On 7/24/2020 at 10:10 AM, Mywords1 said:

I know that this doesn't matter so much but the large black or white masks are very unattractive, ugly.

Oh man, I missed this the first time I read your post.

I’m surprised your spellcheck wasn’t like “oh honey, no.”

[Guest219794]

On 7/24/2020 at 10:10 AM, Mywords1 said:

Everyone overlooks that the chances, statistically, of getting infected is very tiny, even in high risk areas, even among elderly. I figured it as approx. .009 for myself maybe less. and I live near a major city. Dying is much lower. 97% of people will end up getting sick and dying from something totally different. This is a broad generalization, of course. Socially, the situation is becoming a hysteria on both sides. Fear and safety vs. courage and individuality. I think people err in believing that if they are fine wearing a mask all day then everyone can and should. Everyone's reactions are different, and saying it is only psychological is to pretend that these issues don't` matter. Anxiety and other fears matter. Especially to young kids who do not understand the need, and masks perhaps affect their minds later in life, possibly, for the worse.

It is one thing to wear a mask because it is necessary where you work and getting paid, and very different experience wearing one in leisure time, shopping, or whatever. I know that this doesn't matter so much but the large black or white masks are very unattractive, ugly.

It is not unconstitutional by any stretch. . my 2 cents,

This forum is publicly accessible.

It is truly a disservice to post here without at least some kind of disclaimer. Something like, "I am not a nurse, but I think it is courageous to go out to public places with no mask."

While there are certainly misguided and misinformed nurses out there, you are not one of them. It would be a shame for folks to think you are.

And, for the love of god, please stop referring to use of masks as "fear". It is wrong and offensive. It a simple intervention used successfully throughout the world to limit the spread of infection. The fact that it has become a political litmus test is absolutely irrelevant to the science.

[Tenebrae, BSN, RN]

12 hours ago, sevensonnets said:

Courage is choosing to do what's right.

It not only requires a person to stand up for their rights and those around them, it requires the person to consider how their actions impact on other people

[Guest219794]

Courage is storming the beaches of Normandy, or pulling somebody out of a burning car.

Going to a crowded bar with no masks is not an act of courage any more than wearing a mask represents cowardice.

This wording and concept is a political construct is not about science, or freedom. It is about conflict.

The rest of the world is watching in wonder, trying to understand how nearly half of this country has bought into this narrative. In the future of epidemiology education, we will be used as an example of how to guarantee negative outcomes.

[GrumpyRN, NP]

5 hours ago, Tenebrae said:

It not only requires a person to stand up for their rights and those around them, it requires the person to consider how their actions impact on other people

A lot of people forget that with rights comes responsibilities both here in UK and in US.

Does your right to live as YOU want override YOUR responsibility to your fellow citizens?

[GrumpyRN, NP]

The Government

Stage 1: Nothing is going to happen

Stage 2: Something may be going to happen, but we should do nothing about it

Stage 3: We should do something about it, but there is nothing we can do

Stage 4: Maybe there was something we could have done, but it's too late now

"NO ONE CARED WHO I WAS UNTIL I PUT ON THE MASK"

????