Masks outdoors to be relaxed

Steve wilkins wrote:They cant work. A virus particle is smaller than the thread of the mask so can surely pass through no problems. Anyone else notice the complete lack of social distancing and face mask wearing from the members of the G7?

Yes I did, completely unacceptable, but 5hen again Covid respects money people and the like!!!

Steve wilkins wrote:They cant work. A virus particle is smaller than the thread of the mask so can surely pass through no problems. Anyone else notice the complete lack of social distancing and face mask wearing from the members of the G7?

It's more to do with how far the virus travels rather than the size of the mask.
I'll see if I can find the results published a few days ago showing that, when you talk, your breath can reach distances of up to 7 feet but reduced to 2 feet when wearing a mask.

Put a lighted candle about 2m in front of you and blow. The candle will go out. Put a mask on and it will take a much stronger blow to do it.

Then again, the same test showed some masks were more effective than others.
Not being as superb a virologist as some on social media appear to be, I'll keep wearing them as necessary but seems a bit daft when out in the parks or even walking around when no-one is anywhere near you.

Just a few papers published on airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and how being in the outdoors reduces transmission assuming the space is not over-crowded and is well ventilated. The takeaway is that there is less chance of transmission outdoors in sunny, well ventilated areas that are sparsely filled and that the wearing of masks reduces the distance that particles can travel as Marcliff has already stated.

https://www.thelancet.com/action/showPd ... %2900869-2 (ten reasons supporting airborne transmission)

https://aip.scitation.org/doi/10.1063/5.0011960 (droplets can travel 5.5 metres in 5 seconds in a light breeze hence masks reduce this propulsion)

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33307081/ (basically states that transmission is far likelier outside than inside based on an Italian study)

https://academic.oup.com/jid/article/222/2/214/5841129 (sunlight inactivates Covid particles in about 7 minutes - there was some truth in Trump's madness!).

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.u ... 122020.pdf (UK study showing being outside is safer than inside in terms of transmission).

There seems to be crossed messages from Ana Barcelo and Ximo Puig. He wants them as a symbol that says covid is still here. There was a scathing editorial in Informacion which said most people have given up wearing masks outdoors anyway and if he wants a symbol he should have people wear a badge in their lapel. We either trust the science or we don't. You cannot contract Covid just passing someone in the street or on the beach.

Bee

If "most" people are ditching masks outdoors then it must be in Alicante or somewhere.
We went to Torrevieja on Tuesday and came back the scenic route via Rojales and Benijofar. Very rare to see someone without a facemask on. I think there were about 3 people without one who looked rather old and frail (no, not me even though I feel old and frail every time I get out of bed).
There were a fair few with the masks pulled down off their noses but they put them up when people went past.

Through Quesada today and, again, virtually everyone was wearing a mask and all the way from Mercadona Benijofar to Consum Dona Pepa through the centre of town and didn't see one without a facemask (less those in the cafes) but several with the mask down from their noses, though. Then again, it was 31C today.

Disagree that most people have binned the mask outdoors, very few from what I could see. Maybe in Alicante or Elche but certainly not in this area.

Suggest you come down to anywhere from Punta Prima, La Zenia, Playa Flamenca, Cabo Roig, Los Dolses. Loads not wearing a mask, happily walking around without a care in the world. Even the local police just drive past them without a word. And a lot are not holiday makers.

Pedro Sánchez has announced that face masks will not be compulsory outside from Saturday 26 June. #SpainInEnglish. P.S. Currently a proposal due to be approved next Thursday.

nigelandkath wrote:That is disappointing as I really think that our wearing of masks has made the difference and is the reason we have been able to get the rates down despite the poor vaccine roll out. Can't think of a worse thing than being around the renegade Madrilenians who will be the first to dispose of their masks.
The way things are going, Spain wont be on the UK's green list until the summer is over especially if this stupid idea goes ahead.

I agree, masks should be compulsory in all public places except when eating and drinking. Why are people in such a rush to discard masks etc, the only thing that happens is more stringent lockdown rules. The way things are going I can see this virus being with us for years, each year people having a jab, a bit like the flu jab.

Ginger wrote:

nigelandkath wrote:That is disappointing as I really think that our wearing of masks has made the difference and is the reason we have been able to get the rates down despite the poor vaccine roll out. Can't think of a worse thing than being around the renegade Madrilenians who will be the first to dispose of their masks.
The way things are going, Spain wont be on the UK's green list until the summer is over especially if this stupid idea goes ahead.

I agree, masks should be compulsory in all public places except when eating and drinking. Why are people in such a rush to discard masks etc, the only thing that happens is more stringent lockdown rules. The way things are going I can see this virus being with us for years, each year people having a jab, a bit like the flu jab.

No one is forcing you to take yours off, it they truly make such a difference please continue to wear one, I'm fully vaccinated and don't feel the need to wear one in 30+degrees of heat whilst walking around the ghost town that is quesada

Great news. Thanks Paul. I just couldn't face the thought of walking up the steep hill to our nearest supermarket with a mask "glued" to me with every intake of breathe. Couldn't possibly be good for anybody in 30degs. I do hope the Communidad Valenciana don't persist, against the advice of their own medical experts who have told them to ditch the masks outdoors, in continuing a regulation which people are not going to abide by.

Bee