Prime Minister to hold TV news conference at 5pm

@chiarieds I too have tried to do an online shop today and no slots available in the next 7 days I should have thought and got my order in before the announcement

Will have to venture out now was trying to avoid as I can only go with someone so that means after school and by time we will be done it will be dark and I cant see well in the light never mind the dark, so will be a hazard on my scooter

Just hope nobody comes in my way  

woodbine said:

I have to ask myself a question, why if mask are so effective and so advisable were we not told to wear them back in March/April ? Apparently only 7% of washable mask offer any real protection and not all disposables ones are much use.

We were told not to wear them as there was already a shortage of PPE...  As you suggested above, government decisions aren't based purely on medical evidence.  They had to wait for Chinese factories to re-open and ramp up mask production before suggesting that we should all be wearing them.  We all saw what happened to the toilet rolls...

The other factor is that schools and workplaces were closed, hospitality was closed; and people were meant to be avoiding public transport.  This meant there were far fewer situations were the 2 metre rule couldn't be followed.  Masks only became mandatory when these places opened up again and it would be impossible to keep an appropriate distance.  Of course, supermarkets were still open throughout, where masks probably have the biggest impact as it's a place that almost all of us will have to visit...

The trouble I find with masks is that people seem to assume they're totally safe when wearing one so stop distancing.  Washable masks with any stretch in them are pointless as the holes between the threads open up when stretched, allowing particles through.  And the cotton in a stiff washable mask will get abraded during washing in the same way as clothes do so they won't be effective for many washes.  The ones with a 'pocket' for a bit of tissue would be best.  But the main issue is that we're relying on common sense...which is always a bad thing!  A lot of people aren't wearing them properly, leaving big gaps around them, and some are wearing the same one for days and mashing it in and out of their pocket with contaminated hands several times a day...defeating the purpose.

Worn properly in a medical setting they'll be pretty effective, in the real world not so much...  I do agree with RAWarrior though, even though I know they aren't all that effective and I'm keeping as bigger distance as possible, it's become such a 'normal' thing to see them in an indoor environment that it does feel uncomfortable to see someone without one.  That's the reason I'm wearing one when shopping despite finding it very difficult to do so.

Hi @OverlyAnxious,

I am glad that you understand what I was trying to say and that you are social distancing.
I also try to keep as bigger distance as possible because it makes me really anxious when someone doesn't wear a face covering and then comes to close to me. Unfortunately whether people agree with it or not people (unless they have a medical exemption) are supposed to wear a face covering and these days the majority of people don't bother.