Facemasks have become a symbol of the pandemic. In the early stages of the coronavirus crisis, the World Health Organization (WHO) advised people not to wear facemasks. In June, however, the WHO reversed its position in light of “evolving evidence”, and put out guidance suggesting people should wear facemasks in public.
We have learned a lot about the coronavirus. We’ve learned that not only can asymptomatic individuals still be infectious, but also that it’s possible the virus can be spread by tiny particles suspended in air (particularly indoors). So, even if people have no symptoms, they could still be spreading the virus to others when they talk, laugh, sing, cough, sneeze, and so on. The WHO hopes that facemasks could help to reduce the risk of infection by trapping droplets when they leave our airways.
What does the science say? There is mounting scientific evidence that wearing masks could reduce infection rates. Some European countries have already made facemasks compulsory in closed public spaces. On the other hand, some experts warn that making masks mandatory could provoke a public backlash, and that persuasion is a better approach. There are also questions about how enforceable such a policy would be.
Should wearing facemasks in public be compulsory? Could they save lives? Would a mandatory facemask policy be enforceable? Let us know your thoughts and comments in the form below and we’ll take them to policymakers and experts for their reactions!
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Yes
If necessary yes.
Yes
No
And why not?
Do you like compulsory things? Not me.
NO
Indoors? Absolutely!
Yes, because many people took it as game. So the people who care is difficult for them.
Yes
YES OF COURSE !!!!
Masks should be compulsory in indoor public spaces and in open spaces if there is a mass gathering of people. And there should be strict fines! I was recently travelling for work and what I saw makes me understand why some countries are doing better than others. Airport staff should have the authority to fine people not wearing masks at the airport or on the actual plane.
yes and with physical distance we can end this very soon
if we would be able to unite all people around the world to wear masks, wash hands, and keep the distance, the pandemic would be over in 3 weeks. However, I am afraid that many evil people do not have an interest in making the virus disappear, and many good people are just confused by everything that is happening right now.
No, it is going to far.
Yes!
Whoever is afraid can lock themselves at home and let the rest live their lives. Young people should not and must not be made to pay other people’s insecurities.
Politicians and media should stop sending diametrically opposite messages daily, and scientists should stop using academic language when addressing the public. Simplify the messages, otherwise, this approach will lead to the spread of infection and the collapse of societies around the world. People need simple messages that are easy to understand: WEAR MASK, WASH HANDS, KEEP DISTANCE! This is the only way to stop the virus, but also to prevent the lockdown. Very evil people want to confuse the public so that they do not wear masks and thus contribute to the spreading of the virus. Then these evil people will be able to lock us down and do what they want. The choice we have is either masks or chipping. Whoever is against the mask is contributing to the project of chipping humans.
or else how too much freedom becomes a racket
You confuse freedom with promiscuity. Are you sure you understand the difference between the different concepts that words carry?
Yes, it must!
Yes, of course. It’s called social mindfulness.
It can’t be. Controlling the life’s of healthy people in public outdoor spaces is an ugly idea. Sick people can be locked in their house or hospital, it’s called quarantine, but no measures for healthy people can be imposed.
And this new fashion of being sick without symptoms looks a little bit silly to me.
The idea is to stop you passing it on. People can have it without knowing m
people can be asymptomatic in that they themselves are not sick or ill but are however infectious and can infect others who are vulnerable.
health condition is among the strictest guarded personal data so nobody besides ones doctor knows is you are sick or not. The authorities and third parties can judge by themselves measuring (remotely) your temperature or listening if you are coughing or not. Nobody has permission to mark you in any way as potential spreader (without being Nazi or communist of course).
and nobody is sick before he knows or feels he is.
Lock yourself in the house.. for your safety :D
I don’t consider myself vulnerable but do take sensible precautions. Thanks anyway.
many types of cancer only are symptomatic when healing is difficult, and people were undoubtly ill long before feeling symptoms!
it should not, it must!
please?
for the sake of humanity, respect, sanity and science.
Alma … ummm why?
tell that hospital staff, tell it ambulance paramedics, tell that firefoghters, soldiers …
Tell that everybody who works in Biotech (myself having been in S2 labs)
BTW, do you take pills, medication?
do you know how they are produced?
google GMP:
good manufacturing practise.
Everybody on the production line, making medication, is wearing gloves, masks, coats, haircovers, shoecovers etc.
For the whole shift.
That’s for scientific reasons (ie. hygiene and cleanliness).
so until we scientists come up with a vaccine or medication or cure, please don’t complain for wearing a mask, just wear it
and stay safe
This virus is a lab virus, why do you want to make a vaccine for a lab made virus. The way you speak you say you a scientist yet show no evidence of being one, at least one that has no second intentions.
Also, the fear that the handling of the virus has caused is destroying peoples lives besides the immunologic lower substantially with the wearing of masks compulsively.
The true heard immunity is when scientist think they know more than nature then try to transform everyone in what they think should be the way.
Miguel, your comment is a little confusing, mind explaining it better p. f.?
To resume, we are in a World war were the weapons used basically are different from the previous wars. The control of population besides of the population control has got out of hand, misinformation has been the keyword by the media. If you want I can explain any specific part with my opinion, yet in resume its this.
conspiracy theories only in Hollywood and…… on virtual social media!
A lie even repeated to exhaustion doesn’t turn into truth!
It’s impossible to fool everyone at once and for a long time, Winston Churchill said. If I may advise you: read, read a lot and from many different sources. You’ll be better informed and I bet you’ll find it more interesting!
exactly what I’ve been doing, try to do the same. We were bombed by incorrect information for many years, now the truth is coming to the top, this outbreak had been planned for years.
sorry, but neither the virus nor the outbreak was planned.
195something governments wordlwide which can’t agree on simple things like drivin on the same side of the road or doing the same taxes, duties, whatever laws … suddenly agree on a pandemic conspiracy?
Geee, sorry, but please give me scientific evidence.
which evidence do you want to see that I’m a scientist?
Chemist, Biochemists, specialised in BioTech, Immunology and Cardiac-Research.
What’s your speciality?
Im a data manager, I manage peoples data in ways for them to think of diferente aspects of them that they hadnt imagined yet.
Do research on the labs that worked on this virus before it came out, also think on how some people that got infected again after being cured, then ponder on the probability of it being from another lab. Yes, you will try to answer about the mutation, yet the immunologic system should have fought it off without symptoms.
Also explain why the tests are made but sticking something up your nose when its said that it runs in the blood.
so the immune system should have fought it off without symptoms?
Tell that to those people who have HIV, Flu, Ebola …
Have fun!
Leave the facts to the scientists in the field of expertise.
I won’t jump into your statistics either (only the one I did myself) ;-)
typical problem with many scientists, they have a hard time expanding from the thoughts they have already created.
you are not helping your case by generalising :-
you not helping your case in blocking me lol
Best Regards
just extending accessrights to my page :-D
I have enough conspirationists aroundme.
but interesting that you don’t answer my questions and rather go for ad hominem :-D
Not giving answers doesn’t help YOUR case.
:-D
Oh, no. Not public backlash! By all means, then, let more people become infected and die and allow our hospitals to break under the strain.
good one, however, very few people will understand your irony. This is the internet, not a group of intellectual debating in a room. We need simple messages for the general public.
I’ll let you take care of the simple messages for the general public, then. I simply don’t have the patience.
I understand you. I am also frustrated to that level that I just want to leave everything and go to the old barn in the mountains for the next 6-8 months.
Beyond the present pandemic, I genuinely despair for the sustainability of our democracies even in the short term given the dismal average intelligence of the electorate, and the resignation to and even expectation of that low calibre of thought. I’m quite convinced that liberal democracies will not be saved by pandering to the lowest common denominator, but rather ushered more quickly to their demise. We must expect more, not less, from our fellow citizens, or sooner or later we are going to lose our democracies and oligarchs will be left picking up the pieces.
And at the risk of dating myself, back when I was in grade school understanding political satire was taught as a basic literacy skill – though apparently not very well! ;p
wearing a mask all over the world during 6 month is end of the science.
Politicians and media should stop sending diametrically opposite messages daily, and scientists should stop using academic language when addressing the public. Simplify the messages, otherwise, this approach will lead to the spread of infection and the collapse of societies around the world. People need simple messages that are easy to understand: WEAR MASK, WASH HANDS, KEEP DISTANCE! This is the only way to stop the virus, but also to prevent the lockdown. Very evil people want to confuse the public so that they do not wear masks and thus contribute to the spreading of the virus. Then these evil people will be able to lock us down and do what they want. The choice we have is either masks or chipping. Whoever is against the mask is contributing to the project of chipping humans.
Have to wear mask on public transport and in shops in Scotland and there is no backlash, just a few people moaning.
Leaders have to do the right thing not worrying about back lash..
Yes!
For sure, until an efficient vacin comes to the market!!
Come on. Slovakia just told it’s citizens to wear masks in public back in early march and nobody made a fuss. They published online videos on how to sew masks and next thing everyone had them on, with cool designs as a bonus. The real cherry on the cake is this: a total of 28 deaths for a population of 5.5million. And four months later you are still arguing about this? Let me tell you straight: idiocy kills too.
Watching the global Covid-19 debacle over the last 5 months- what has everyone learned or is learning?
Does one wish to avoid a serious regression or collapse of the economy? Should one protect oneself from the consequential impact, while still having a choice & being alive? How valuable and desirable is a harmonious life for everyone?
Of course, it makes sense to protect & safeguard as much as possible while trying to remain a productive wheel of the economy. Is there even one compelling argument not to use any sensible protection when in public or crowded places? I don’t think so! Ideally, it should be sought & requested by all- making law enforcement unnecessary.
After following this weekend’s EU summit confirms once more Voltaire’s “Common sense is not so common”!
https://philosiblog.com/2011/08/03/common-sense-is-not-so-common/
How is it possible that some Eurocrats think to get away by giving a massive 500 billion euros in grants to members well known for their wastage, corruption & mismanagement or without consideration & permission from the donor’s taxpayers? Shocking & very disturbing!
Thanks to “the concerned & sensible 4” standing up against the “irresponsible & reckless” twenty-something- It is showtime! High noon!
https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/coronavirus-stimulus-eu-deadlocked-size-of-rescue-package-2020-7-1029409123#
Please don’t forget that all national parliaments need to approve this EU/Merkel folly before anyone in the EU/EP may decide. Why was this EU dream not brought before all national parliaments first?
Typical- seeking an EU Law on carrying masks but lawlessly wasting billions of euros- felt by all next generations!
Indoors – drfinitely yes, if it’s just advisable people don’t take it seriously.
And even though it’s compulsory, people still do whatever they think is best for them. Let’s remind that wearing facemasks not only protects you but also the others, more vulnerable.
Still wondering?
Not literally everywhere in public. That would be silly, as in the picture above. But in public transport for sure.
I think it’s necessary in crowded places such as squares, markets as well, even if it’s outside. For example, I went walking in a park with the face mask on as there were a lot of people passing me by. I mean, maybe it’s a bit paranoic, but you never know where you could get it from, unfortunately. :( However, if there are 2-3 people around, it should be ok without it, as long as you keep the distance too
Here, it’s already mandatory to wear a face mask in public transport and also recommended in the stations (bus, tram and underground train) and you are fined otherwise
Yes it should because some of us seem to not be aware yet that we ALL live in a interdependent society, from global to local. In order to get the care we need, we have to care for others.
I wear a mask everywhere because I don’t want to be contaminated and because I want to assure people I meet and come across that I’m doing my best not to contaminate anyone of them.
We must build up a “society of care” at all levels and domains or we all will soon perish.
These last months’ experience has provided all the evidence many of us still needed to better understand the profound complexity and vast interdependence of the society we live in.
People who have experienced working at international level know that social phenomena may vary in intensity but are essentially the same in all latitudes.
So stop being selfish, wear a mask!
P.S. I would love to see such similar opposition when some governments in all continents reduce democratic rights, stop implementing human rights, encourage all sort of discrimination, dismantle environmental agencies, fire scientists, defund health and education services, while increasing “war budgets”, favouring corrupted business, and so on… Where were you??
Ofcourse it should. You have 99.6% chance of surviving it. All that can stop it should be mandatory
Public health should come before any other political issue and devide. Stop politicizing science and just do what is right by everyone whether people like it or not, at the end of the day there’ll always be haters and deniers.
Its a good way to ptotest against the big btother facial recognition effort ..
It seems a bit dramatic when you think of all the products have been touched, breathed on and likely covered with sprays of saliva.
What troubling the West in using a facial mask during the pandermic is that mask has been used as a symbol to tease country lacking freedom of speech. Now, if the West put on the mask which means they are shutting up their mouth voluntarily before the pandermic. One more very important point is that China is the first country that was attacked by the Covid-2019. When the Chinese government told the people to use mask, the West said the Communist is forbidden their people to speak up. So, wearing a mask is like slapping face to people who always view China with coloured glasses and taking every opportunity to smear… If European people are worrying the decline of Europe, please reveal seriously what you have been doing for almost 70 years. Are you not focusing on attacking Communism and after the Cold War, you are attacking China. If politicians are wasting their time to watch China and use everything opportunity to boost your support by attacking China, what can you how do? how much can you do for your own people, your own country? When political leaders have such a pathetic vision, how can Europe make correct choice on everything without twisting the reality and logic? If “democratic”election turns out to choose who is more anti-China, what is the meaning of this pathetic “democratic election”? This is what happening in the US, people are dying but its president and secretary of state are watching China every the time. Who are they paying for?
If people want to survive the pandermic, please give up your bias and see wearing facemask scientifically. Ideology is dead in this new era. Ideologies are for superpower confrontation and power competition. Nowadays, we are in a global era and virus has no national boundary. It is a fact that the virus does not attack only yellow people. Be rational, logical and scientific!
Yes! If it has been scientifically proven to reduce the spread, absolutely yes.
Why not.. If it avoid lock down
Major back lash
has any one concidered the psychological consequences of the masks in junior ages? Or all ages? Or we just hang it in “the Muslims have done it for ages”?
In my opinion, depends on the likelihood of contagion in the area. No point requiring masks in an area with next to no exposure. It would be different, of course, in densely populated places with a high exposure/contagion rate. In other words, local common sense instead of umbrella requirement.
This is stupid.No one should wear something like this.Period.End of discussion.
Should questions against humanity be banned? Debating.
If u can’t criticize China for bringing this deadly disease to the world with a strong stand, at least look at how S.korea and Japan contain the virus.
The mask provokes less oxygen flow provoking other problems, to me the use of a mask is more probably to lead to serious problems to many that would not have them without it.
No, no way. Comunist agenda.
No.
What for?
Why Europe is still debating whether it’s necessary to wear 😷 ???? So tiring to see this.
I’m afraid that Europeans aren’t the sharpest tools in the shed.
for sure that we debate, we are not primitive dictator-governed society like China or Singapur
YES 😃
you have an option to wear that, i have an option not to wear that
Just mandate it. The backlash is not against masks per se, it’s against sudden change by a spoilt population of conservatives without the intellectual capacity to grasp the complexity of the situation. It could be anything. In any case, Spain has mandatory masking, but people go to bars and restaurants and remove them to eat. While they are required to keep their doors open to ventilate… yeah, it’s not the most logical situation. It is very important though to have them in public transport.
Put the mask on if you want, I will not wear it. Freedom is more important that doubtfull protection against alleged virus
Compulsory never
Nope!
They should. It is an easily applicable and effective way of prevention.
And for how long we will wear it? Until we get old or all our life? For me, it seems like taking away the only human right to breathing air.
Stay at home 🙂
We should wear them for as long as it is needed. We could continue to breath air through the mask. No one prevent us.
It is effective and easily applicable. It’s common sense. So it shouldn’t be hard to convince people that it’s in their own interest to act this way. No need to mandate it. Because making it a rule, you need more people who’ll enforce it, who will investigate people, others who will punish people. It’s better to spend money on convincing and educating, then on investigating and punishing. Imposing seems us to be an efficient shortcut, but actually it’s not.
In an ideal world I would agree with you. But in a world where we can’t convince certain people even οf the fact that earth is round and not flat, I fear that the power of conviction has its limits. Most people understand why there are speed limits in the roads and they respect them. Still for others there should be the threat of a big fine to comply.
I don’t agree with the mask and I’m not saying the earth is flat. Stop this childish way of thinking. Or you are a cyborg :)))
in this particular matter, I think “most people” would suffice. 70% of the population would be enough for attaining the goal. Using the right arguments, we should be able to convince enough people, even if not all of them. In general, I’m against regulations. I believe in a few, basic, heavily enforced laws, but otherwise, in a deregulated, free society that treats the individual as a responsible adult, not as a child that needs the governments guidance.
I am not referring obviously to you, but there are people that think the world is flat so it is very difficult to convince these people of any scientific fact.
There lies our disagreement. First of all I don’t think that 70% compliance is enough (that means basically that for every 10 people in a restricted close space like a supermarket 7 will wear masks and 3 not. I don’t think that will contain the disease. Also I don’t agree that we should treat by default all individual as responsible adults. The history has shown time and again, that if you assume that, then the minority that has no ethical constrains and no empathy will dominate to the majority unless there are laws to restrict them.
we don’t disagree in principle, only in the applicable degree. 100% compliance wouldn’t stop the pandemic either. What we want to achieve is basically to stall, until a vaccine is produced. To slow down the contamination progress, until we develop some real means to fight it. Wearing masks isn’t the best weapon, but is way more cheaper than closing businesses and shutting down the economy. That’s why it’s so publicized. But with seven out of ten we already hinder enough the contamination process. Ten would be better of course, but not significantly in order to justify enforcement.
I agree, the accent has to be put on educating the young to become ethical individuals, and we have to fight moral relativity. Generally I don’t believe in fixing the society as a whole, I believe in fixing the individual. We need laws, and laws need to be enforced, but regulating everything is not a magical wand that resolves all our problems. In fact, it breeds corruption. When there’s a new rule, bending it is profitable but enforcing it is expensive.
stop this nonsense!
Nonsense why? Its common sense
YES…..6 MONTHS AGO
Sounds like totalitarism? Forcing people doing something against their will.
like going to school?
Oh yes, laws are the hallmark of totalitarianism, right?
It’s hilarious that the same ol arguments are being dug out we had when mandatory seat belt use was introduced.
It is totalitarism.
Yes. Imagine these totalitarian regimes make me go to work dressed every day against my will and don’t let me go naked as I would like.
Totalitarism is controlling EVERY aspect of life. That’s where the TOTAL in totalitarianism comes from.
You being inconvenienced by life-saving measures is not that.
your freedom cannot affect other people’s freedom and rights. Especially if their health is in risk.
You’re also forbidden to throw your trash to the streets. Urinate against the walls….is that totalitarianism? 😄
What science? The micron rating of most basks is not able to stop covid. Also people wear the same mask, don’t wash them or reuse disposable ones and actually become more likely to get infected
Coming up with the micron rating as a reference for stopping covid demonstrates lack of any grasp of the pertinent science. Viroids don’t travel individually and “naked”.
OK smarty pants what about the reuse and not washing more permanent masks?
Because many people driving motorbikes don’t use suitable helmets or don’t wear their helmets correctly, but this isn’t a reason to abandon their use. It is a reason to properly educate people about their correct use.
It’s says volumes when someone who started with “What science?” followed by unscientific garbage can only say “Ok smarty pants” when corrected by someone with a biomedical research doctorate.
Come back when you’re actually interested in science and not excuses.
failed to the answer my question though eh? Maybe you need to go back to uni 😂
Your question had already been answered. You just proved my point – you have no interest in science, only in abuse. Kindly don’t project your own need of education onto others.
But then, someone who projects responsibility for incompetence not on the incompetent but on the competent would do that, wouldn’t you?
It’s not the fault of people demanding masks should be worn that you do not want to learn.
Obviously not…
what is so “obvious” ?
No
There is no legal way to force a healthy person (i.e. one that doesn’t feel sick) to wear a mask or to curtail his/hers free movement without imposing martial law, which also might not be constitutional in many countries
of course the countries can educate people on the measures they can take to protect themselves and society on a voluntary basis.
Why has anything remotely EU orientated appeared on my news feed ?
Off!
Possibly your “stay at home” profile picture and NHS connection. Both are much more prevalent in pro-EU groups.
Sure
But neither are anything that the EU can take credit for? N’est ce pas ?
Turkey is attacking Armenia with terrorist groups and the whole world is in silence . Thinking about wearing mask is secondary at this point . WORLD Wake up..
If they want mass unrests an civil wars.
no, thanks
They wear clothes!
My brother is in the vulnerable group because he has severe COPD and he could die from the cold virus or any virus. Should people wear an ineffective mask permanently in a feeble attempt to keep him safe or should he just stay home to keep himself safe like his pneumonologist told him too? If people give him a cold and he dies are they COPD sufferer killers?
It is time to take the vast numbers of asymptomatic people into consideration and advise the vulnerable groups how to take measures to protect themselves. Also people in general should be advised to have a health check-up to see if they have any undiagnosed underlying health issues that makes them susceptible to this virus.
Furthermore, I don’t know why people are holding out for a vaccine, when vaccines in respiratory vaccine leaflets in general state that the vaccine is not guaranteed to protect a person. Additionally, Bill Gates said vaccines do not work as well in the elderly. Therefore vaccinated people may still get the virus and going around infecting people, especially the elderly vulnerable groups. Let alone the high risk of pandemic vaccines due to lack of safety testing. Are we going to have a repeat of the vaccine damaged health workers and children who got narcolepsy vaccine damage from the rushed swine flu pandemic vaccine and are suing for damages in the UK?
In this case the vulnerable groups are not a few people per 100.000 of the population but a huge number of people that is suffering from obesity, diabetes, hypertension, old age etc etc. For example 1/3 of adult USA males above 35 are suffering from hypertension. So, in the case of Coronavirus the vulnerable groups may be 20-40% of the total population. Is it possible to isolate such a huge proportion from the rest of the people and let the rest live their life as they like? Obviously not. All these people are fathers, husbands, workers and staff in crucial sectors etc mixed in the general population and whatever measures they take by themselves, will not will be enough to protect them. Add to that the proportion of the people that have no vulnerability and still get sick and dies from COVID-19, and you can easily understand why the measures should be for all people and not only for the vulnerable groups.
You could easily say the measure are ruining people’s lives and livelihoods. I know people who have lost their jobs and have mortgages risking home loss. The measures cause more serious problems to more people’s life than the virus. The difference is the vulnerable could have measures that help them stay home instead of vast numbers of people having their lives and businesses destroyed from the measures. Destroying nearly everybody to save a few people is not the way to handle this. I am all for measures to protect the vulnerable. Give them benefits, let them stay home and let the rest of the world, the majority live their life without risking their families income and education. My brother stays home and I shop for him. It is his responsibility to stay safe not the rest of the world’s.
it’s against every member state constitution, freedom and democracy…
Yeah. Like using seat belts. Or wearing clothes!11
it’s not the same thing
Right. Masks save lives, clothes do not.
oh yeah tell that to homeless people
There should be education. I come from Hong Kong. We experienced SARS in 2003, a tough lesson. So most ppl started wearing masks after hearing about this new virus, even though our gov’t didn’t do anything at that time. Tai Wan as well, most people put on their masks voluntarily. If people understand how masks help protect themselves and their loved ones, I bet most of them will choose to wear it as well.
Yes everywhere / as soon as your out the house / unless your driving alone. My opinion
Talibans say they agree
No hel no you comunists
José Lambrux Gonçalves What is communistic about that? Is communistic that everybody wears clothing when going into the public? Or is it some sort of freedom to walk naked in the streets and occasionally urinate wherever?
Yes it should, and it should be advised outside of pandemic situation.
Jakub Master-xotox Kovacs seems you have had your vaccine already.
Boyko Vesselinov unfortunately not, but I am impatiently waiting for the registration to be open! :)
Jakub Master-xotox Kovacs thought so