Chat about Novel Coronavirus - 2019-nCoV - COVID-19

What is the not wearing a mask issue, I don't understand. Mind you I don't understand why people can't wear a mask properly covering both mouth and nose. Seemed that quite a few people didn't get that mask does not protect you, it protects others.

Spending time in the summer in France, there was no mask issue. Masks were even worn when leaving the home not just in buildings when it wasn't compulsory. There were times that the masks were made compulsory.

@Eseman Isn't the Asian mask wearing a cultural thing. So there will need to be a cultural change.

Isn't the Asian mask wearing a cultural thing. So there will need to be a cultural change.

Indeed. It’s frowned on to be clearly sick in public and not be wearing a mask, unlike in our hemisphere where others just have to put up with it. For example, the UK FCDO’s internal guidance recently used to say that a respiratory illness alone was not sufficient grounds to not go in to work.

There is hope here because mask culture in Asia became more prevalent after swine flu and bird flu.

I'd rather a culture where a respiratory illness was sufficient grounds to stay in bed.

Exactly. It doesn't translate to Coronavirus.

The Asian mask wearing is out of politeness to not spread on a cough/cold that the wearer has. It's not specific to any previous pandemic (bird/swine flu, etc), it's more aimed at the common cold.

But if anyone has Coronavirus symptoms they shouldn't be outside, mask or not.

It also only works in a society/culture where the majority of people have a mutual respect for their fellow citizen. Fuck all chance of that happening in the UK.

As for "the mask issue". I dislike them, they're not comfortable and often a pain in the arse with glasses. I'll wear them where required (and a bit more than that, for example, if I'm going to shop then I obviously have to wear one but the pavements start to get busy one or two streets away, so I'll put my mask on then rather than right outside the shop, likewise I'll keep it on after leaving the shop and only take it off when the pavements have quietened down). Also I'm not going to wear one when out running, I'd rather pick my routes to keep me away from hordes of people and also make sure I can give other people plenty of space if I do encounter anyone.

(Note that I'm not saying that people wearing a mask is a bad idea, it's obviously going to help cut down on the spread of all manner of diseases, but I don't think the UK is going to suddenly shift to a culture of wearing masks for prevention when the pandemic has all but died down to general lingering levels.)

Exactly. It doesn't translate to Coronavirus.

The Asian mask wearing is out of politeness to not spread on a cough/cold that the wearer has. It's not specific to any previous pandemic (bird/swine flu, etc), it's more aimed at the common cold.

But if anyone has Coronavirus symptoms they shouldn't be outside, mask or not.

It also only works in a society/culture where the majority of people have a mutual respect for their fellow citizen.

My comment was geared towards mask use for more commonly accepted, less deadly illnesses: colds, seasonal influenza. Would be great if Sarah from HR could keep her germs to herself instead of spreading them around the office thanks very much.

Anyone with corona symptoms should isolate, and employers should enforce this.

I was under the impression that mask use became more prevalent and more expected following bird and swine flu. At least that’s what I’ve been told by Korean and Japanese contacts.

Note that I'm not saying that people wearing a mask isn't a bad idea,

So you’re saying it is a bad idea...?

Note that I'm not saying that people wearing a mask isn't a bad idea,

So you’re saying it is a bad idea...?

No, clumsily written sentence, I'll try and edit it.

My comment was geared towards mask use for more commonly accepted, less deadly illnesses: colds, seasonal influenza. Would be great if Sarah from HR could keep her germs to herself instead of spreading them around the office thanks very much.

Ah, yes, I see.

I was under the impression that mask use became more prevalent and more expected following bird and swine flu. At least that’s what I’ve been told by Korean and Japanese contacts.

Maybe more prevalent, but it was there to begin with. I remember seeing it out in Japan in the mid 90s when I was there on a business trip and that seems to predate the big recent pandemics of swine flu (2009) and bird flu (1997). There's also a huge cultural difference on bodily fluids. Blowing your nose in public is massively frowned upon.

I'm still seeing spitting on the ground in public during a pandemic, I've got no belief that anyone's going to keep wearing a mask when there's no pandemic.

That's right. One letter for the household, despite numerous people living here.

Went to see my osteopath today, first one post Covid.
No exercise for about 4 weeks now, but due to the coughing and general stress, my body was apparently in an absolute state.
With how locked up my upper back and neck were, he was surprised I wasn't having constant tension headaches.

In some circles, that could be seen as commie ;)

Have worked in few offices where staying home if you had cold or flu (or any sick leave) was frowned upon. Flipside the fun of watching the lurgy spread round the office.

Yeah - the 'look how sick I am but I'm still here' scene will hopefully be gone for good now.

Yes the 'I'd come in even if my arm was hanging off' thing.

lovely phrase.

What are you thoughts on this
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/25/acceptance-problem-as-most-oxford-covid-jabs-delivered-to-eu-not-yet-used

We can hope.

@not4sale Those kind people annoy me, you're ill is your job that important? Rarely is the answer yes. That attitude of not taking time off when along along with don't take holidays of more than a day here have been the ones that have been defrauding monies from the company for years.

No one ever died saying I wish I worked more.

More jabs for us!

the ones that have been defrauding monies for years.

Wonderful, totally bollocks generalisation there.

Problematic, it's not that this virus doesn't spread around the world :(

I'm sure my parents (Netherlands) would love a jab asap haven't seen them for over a year tx to all this.

Generalisation perhaps, but at the bank reluctance to take holiday was an Amber flag for possible internal fraud. I'd imagine it'd be likewise for some other roles in other industries too.

Banks have a mandatory 2 consecutive week holiday policy for this reason.

and mandatory random audits.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-56208674

Vaccination by job and area not practical due to lack of data and additional scheduling overload so vaccination going ahead by age group / medical vulnerabilities as before.

Started taking cod liver oil (which has vits a e d omega3) and star flower oil (onega6) and B vits, my gammy sore hip is barely complaining now.

Haven't got it checked by physio cos of Rona but inflammation / wear is my guess.

No idea if it does anything for you as you may not have that going on, the high strength boots ones are the ones I got.

Is your sense of smell returning?

I don't understand, why is not taking holiday a indicator of fraud?