While there is always a balance to be had when deciding control measures, especially now, when as you say the virus appears to be endemic, so I’m not going to advocate for or against mask wearing, but there flaws with your description on mask wearing.
You say masks are only useful when you are showing symptoms, unfortunately you can have the virus and be spreading it before showing symptoms, so your analogy on the seatbelt, is more like only putting on your seatbelt as you are crashing your car, it’s a bit late at that point.
I understand what you're saying, but I'm speaking about people who are actually healthy.
In my case, not only was there only a tiny chance I could catch Covid, I was (and still am) taking a LFT every morning, and a PCR every week.
So with 99.9% certainty, I was Covid free.
Which then raises the point regarding asymptomatic, every single person in the country, on the planet could potentially be asymptomatic.....which then means you're potentially asking 8 billion people to wear a mask every single day.
That will never happen.
Even in countries where masks are still required, it doesn't happen.
I've spent the last few weeks in Spain.
On flight down, all passengers had to wear a mask when boarding at the gate. As soon as the plane took off, everyone......and I mean everyone took their masks off, and although a legal requirement, the cabin crew never said a thing.
I then used the buses several times in Spain. Once again, a legal requirement to wear a mask. Driver asks you to wear a mask when you get on, but then what happened? Most took their masks off.....even elderly Spanish people.
So, even if its made law, the majority are now at the point where they won't obey.
And then there is the type of mask.
Several case studies have shown that the "basic" face mask that majority use, the cheap blue surgical masks, do not stop transmission of the virus. They reduce it, but in an enclosed space, such as a bus or aircraft, even if everyone wears them, the virus will still circulate.
I went to a theatre during the pandemic, and although everyone in attendance was wearing masks, there was an outbreak linked to 2 people in the audience, and I think it was around 30 infected in total.
To mitigate that, everyone would need to wear FFP3 standard masks......which if you've ever worn one, properly fitted, is not that pleasant. Due to its high filtration, breathing does take effort.....but if worn by all, it would virtually stop all transmission by respiration. Add on the fact they're quite expensive, and it's not an option.
So although as I say, I understand your point, we have to be realistic.
Even countries like Italy and Austria that went really strict on Covid have now removed virtually all restrictions and guidance......because they realise this is now a long term situation......and as such, we have to think about living with covid for the next 50+ years.
As was seen with the vaccinations, mandating people to do something often backfires.....combined with a general "lethargy", means that we're potentially worse off.
Take vaccination in the UK.
Over 90% have had 1st dose......but then it drops down to 60% for 3rd dose.....and polling puts this autumn's booster and possibly under 50%. This time next year, 30%?
This is why ultimately, it will become the responsibility of those who are at risk to take care of themselves......much as with flu over the past years. Those at risk are offered vaccination, they will no doubt wear masks in high risk situations, and life will go on as it has done with flu over the years.
I'm quite sure over 90% of the population has had Covid by now......so one would hope that combined with vaccination, although we may not ever attain "herd immunity", 99.9% of the country have some sort of immune defense, which is a far better place than we were in 2020.
On a side note, judging by what's happening in the southern hemisphere, I'd be more concerned about flu this winter than Covid......which in part due to masks and isolation, we don't have the same "community immunity" that we'd normally have.
Which is another point.....to a certain extent, its not a bad thing to catch some viruses......its the way our body learns to defend itself.....after months of lockdown, when the kids went back to school, coughs and colds spread like wildfire.....and the symptoms were worse than normal.....because they're immune systems hadn't been used to it.
End of the day, there needs to be a balance....but every individual will have their own view of what that balance is.....so best thing to do, look after yourself and do what you personally think is best for you and those around you.
We may not agree with other people's decisions, but that's how it's been for thousands of years, and ot always will be. Just got to get on with life the best we can.
They are having the house refurbished at the moment so were relying on being able to celebrate at a restaurant..
