Are you going out more now that you have a mask?

[DaveNV]

Another thread about how crowded the streets are these days despite SIP orders prompts the question:

Now that more people have masks, are they leaving home more often because they think they're safer?

Dave

 

[TravelTime]

No I am the same. I am a homebody anyway. I just go out for essential services.

 

[amycurl]

No. I am still just going to the grocery store, maybe once every 5-10 days. This weekend, we had to go to the car dealer because one car's engine light was on. $600 later.... *sigh* We figured we didn't feel comfortable even driving it once a week not knowing what the issue was (twas a coolant cap, apparently.)

 

[PigsDad]

I only wear a mask inside stores. When I walk past someone on the sidewalk, I just make sure I provide appropriate distancing. And to answer the question: no, I have not changed my habits -- I am still limiting trips as I was when the SIP orders were first issued.

Kurt

 

[bluehende]

I was in a store yesterday for the first time in 7 weeks. A long saga as to why. I actually felt more comfortable than I did 7 weeks ago. One reason is that the store was empty and they were doing a great job of sanitizing and insuring social distancing. Suprisingly I realized my mask did give me a sense of security. I know it does not protect me so it was a strange realization.

On your other point. We had to drive a distance . Every store that was open had full parking lots. My guess is one Walmart had 400 cars in the lot. You could not have paid me to go in there. Traffic was some of the worst I have seen. We got real lucky going by one aldi that seemed closed due to the lack of cars in the lot. We slid in and there were 2 other people in the store. I have never spent more money in such a short time. I was kidding my wife. We both had carts and were acting like we were on one of those supermarket game shows with crap flying everywhere into our carts. I love Aldi.

 

[Bunk]

Unless you have an unused N95 mask (filters out 95% of particles) or an unused surgical mask (filters 56% of viral droplets), I feel that the mask is more talisman than protection. I wear a mask in public or at work in an essential field with not much confidence that the mask will work well or that other people's masks are adequate but with an awareness that nothing better is readily available. So I try to keep my distance from other people.

 

[dioxide45]

No. I am still just going to the grocery store, maybe once every 5-10 days. This weekend, we had to go to the car dealer because one car's engine light was on. $600 later.... *sigh* We figured we didn't feel comfortable even driving it once a week not knowing what the issue was (twas a coolant cap, apparently.)

600 bucks for a coolant cap? Coulda fixed that yourself at AutoZone for about $20.

Any time a check engine light is on, the first place to check is the fuel cap. You can also take it to an auto parts store like AutoZone and they can usually pull the code for free and provide information regarding the issue.

 

[Talent312]

I find wearing a mask annoying, so actually, I'm less likely to go out.
,

 

[amycurl]

We actually did some online research, and the consensus seemed to be this was a $400-$500 repair. The car has more than 250,000 miles on it, so we're trying to baby it a bit, LOL!

 

[Patri]

No, I am not going out more. Still a hassle. But today I will put gas in the car and go to the store for a few items. The dog and I have to get out. (Really, there is no where to go anyway, so no reason to go out more. The weather stinks, which I think is God's way to keep us indoors. Too cold and rainy to even walk).

 

[Brett]

I don't enjoy wearing a mask, - less likely to go out

 

[pedro47]

No, just to Costco, Fresh Market, Trader Joe's Lowes & HD.

 

[presley]

I'll be avoiding people/crowds as much as possible. I do want to get out hiking again, but those areas get overcrowded pretty easily.

Sunday mornings used to be my best dog walks. Nobody was out (prior to Covid19). I could hear and see lots of birds and ducks. Yesterday, a Sunday morning, it was one of the most crowded/busy times I've been out in a long time. It felt like a Saturday afternoon. There were a lot of people out, some in groups, lots of people walking their dogs and many cars driving liking maniacs. I guess with churches being closed, nowhere to go out for breakfast and the sun finally shining, everyone decided to go for a walk or a drive.

 

[Panina]

I have had a mask since the start. It never made me feel more secure. I just feel it is smart to wear one to help the whole community. Just one part of what we all can do to limit the spread.

This morning I ventured to Home Depot when it opened at 6am. No staff had a mask on. I saw 12 customers. Only 1 plus me and my other half had a mask on. How hard is it to cover up? Seems phase1 made people feel more secure that they do not need to wear a mask. I just don’t get it.

 

[geekette]

No. Nothing has changed for me. I manage to go weeks without needing groceries so I will keep on that.

 

[geist1223]

We have wondered how many people wearing the self made cloth masks or surgical masks realize they are protecting others and not themselves necessarily.

 

[R.J.C.]

I don't have a mask. I still go out as often as I desire.

 

[R.J.C.]

We have wondered how many people wearing the self made cloth masks or surgical masks realize they are protecting others and not themselves necessarily.

Correct. According to the CDC, a healthy person wearing a mask is almost pointless.

 

[WinniWoman]

Well where exactly is there to go? I went out without a mask and gloves for weeks to the stores before things started to get more crazy. More things were open then- got my haircut, bought a mattress, went to the post office, liquor store, etc. Had people in my house doing some work like putting up a ceiling fan, etc. Then just a couple of weeks ago I started to wear a mask and gloves to the grocery store or hardware store. Now I just wear a mask- no gloves.

I go out almost every day on a group walk or even by myself. No mask. That said, I live in a rural type area. I reuse the mask. My husband even used the same (surgical) mask I did yesterday to go to the grocery store to get something they never put in my bag even though I paid for it.

 

[WinniWoman]

We have wondered how many people wearing the self made cloth masks or surgical masks realize they are protecting others and not themselves necessarily.

Well- if everyone around you does wear a mask then you are all helping to protect each other. Of course, the mask is just in case someone coughs or sneezes or spits at you or you do the same to them without covering your or their mouths. But if you are 6 feet away from another it isn't even an issue really.

 

[Old Hickory]

I don't wear a mask (but I carry an N95 in the case I'm asked to wear it). I go out often to bicycle, run, walk, etc. I am seeing more people out than in the past weeks. It's natural for some people to want/need to get out and that will continue.

 

[SmithOp]

Not going out more but always wear a mask if I do.

Stopped to pick up a smoothie yesterday, a young lady was there picking up, no mask. She was coughing quite a bit, not even covering her mouth so I waited outside, very inconsiderate.

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["Roger"]

I am certainly going out less than I would normally, but with the mask do I go out more than I would have otherwise? Hard to tell. I will say, when I do go to a store, it makes me more comfortable. Apart from giving others a bit of assurance that I am not spreading it to them, I myself feel better about my own health because ...

I am much less likely to touch my face. I am sure that I would do it numerous times out of reflex without the mask. As soon as I get in the car and mask goes off, the Purell goes on. Not perfect, but better than nothing.​

​

Someone posted here on TUG a link to an article that suggests that the amount that you are exposed can affect how badly you contract the disease. (With a lower level of exposure, your body has a better chance of getting a jump on the disease.) If so, while the mask does not give you complete protection, it does reduce the degree of your exposure.​

Finally, an amusing story. A friend was walking around in a residential area of the local town. Someone sitting on a porch coughed. They looked up and said "Don't worry, cannabis, not coronovirus."

 

[Bunk]

Not going out more but always wear a mask if I do.

Stopped to pick up a smoothie yesterday, a young lady was there picking up, no mask. She was coughing quite a bit, not even covering her mouth so I waited outside, very inconsiderate.

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Sorry but I do not believe this chart is accurate:

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/covid-19-mask-efficacy-chart/

Mostly False
About this rating
What's True
The CDC recommends wearing a cloth face mask in public to help slow the spread of coronavirus.
What's False
However, the percentages displayed in this chart cannot be accurate because no scientific consensus exists on the efficacy of homemade masks in stopping the spread of COVID-19.
What's Undetermined
The efficacy of face masks against the spread of COVID-19 is unknown.

 

[WinniWoman]

What I find interesting is scenarios like these:

Many grandparents are taking in their grandchildren into their homes occasionally to give their parents a break. I mean even having them stay for like a week. It's like they are not concerned at all, yet they worry about people not social distancing or not wearing masks.

Others, like my brother and his wife- their daughter lives in NYC. They had no problem with her coming to stay with them in their home in LI, NY for awhile and now she will be going to FLA to stay with them in their other home. Meanwhile here we are we will not let our son in our home. My SIL even went over to her sister's new apartment to help her move and stayed there the whole weekend. Same person who lectures me about getting a flu shot and all this kind of thing.

Now we wll have another situation where friends of ours are going up to a timeshare in Maine in June and were scheduled to come here and stay overnight in our tiny home on the way back. They are from Queens. I don't see this happening. I will wait to hear from them for a couple of more weeks before I contact them.

It's just all so sad......everything we all look forward to....gone now....