Masks rules get tighter in Europe in winter's COVID-19 wave

Having rules is one thing but enforcing them is another. Face coverings are mandatory on public transport and in shops in the UK but anyone who has recently visited could tell you that 30-40% of people don't bother.

I just can't understand why is it so hard to wear a mask! I wear one whenever I go out and always leave it on over my nose, it is not some type of death covering robbing my body of oxygen. Just wear the damn mask, and wear it properly!

Interesting how they require a certain type of mask. While there's been a mask wearing culture in Japan since before Covid, there's never been a mandate on the type of mask you should wear. I wonder if such a rule would fly here...probably not considering how proper lockdowns aren't even possible.

purple_depressed_bacon, it is strange how there is no talk of using N-95 masks or anything like that. Even doctors and nurses seem to be using the rather light surgical masks you can purchase at any drugstore or pharmacy.

Unless it's N95 or above grade masks, it's all theater.

How about a big dose of "we have no idea" if masks really do much:

https://www.acsh.org/news/2021/08/18/do-masks-work-15736

Very lucky here not having to wear those restrictive masks.

“Of course, it is. It’s not me saying it. It’s science itself saying it because (it's) a virus that is contracted when one exhales,’’ Sanchez said.

That is an answer to the question if masking makes sense OUT DOORS? Insane.

Andy

Very lucky here not having to wear those restrictive masks.

I put one on in public transport, but outdoors? No way.

MarkX

I just can't understand why is it so hard to wear a mask! I wear one whenever I go out and always leave it on over my nose,

Why? Care to explain?

The elephant in the room is that prior to 2020 all the literature western scientists had produced was that mask-wearing in Asian countries had no effect on the spread of respiratory illnesses. Then they did a sudden about-turn...

Having rules is one thing but enforcing them is another. Face coverings are mandatory on public transport and in shops in the UK but anyone who has recently visited could tell you that 30-40% of people don't bother.

Exactly. There's a reason why that country is bathing in the virus. For a country with half the population of Japan, a peak of over 200,000 cases a day is horrendous. They're just lucky Omicron doesn't seem as deadly as the other variants. Anyone can just say they have a medical exemption. Even with the threat of fines, a lot don't bother wearing them on public transport.

And don't get me started on Boris Johnson's cheese and wine parties.