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General => The Stay Safe Board => Topic started by: Gillg on Thursday 10 December 20 10:16 GMT (UK)
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I'm heartily sick of TV interviews with people whose masks don't cover their noses. Even the PM's nose was clearly visible yesterday in an interview. Why don't the cameramen tell them to cover up? We all surely know by now that both mouth and nose should be covered. ::)
p.s. Ever tried putting on and taking off a mask when wearing a woolly hat which covers the ears? It's a tricky business.
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Oh, I agree, so many people are shown wearing their masks covering only their mouths !
In Corrie, they go into the pub not wearing a mask and start to speak then pull their mask up.A film set I know but real people!
I could not understand why , when the Specialist who was attending to me ,was fully protected,gown,mask, hat, gloves,and I wore a mask yet during his examination of my eyes three different young Drs were in and out of the room asking him questions to do with the patients they were seeing.!
No “excuse me ,” —- They had no protective clothing !
Just got between him and me with only inches between.
I truly was flabbergasted .
Viktoria.
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Yes my OH has quite a palaver these days - mask, glasses, woolly hat and hearing aid, he has to do it in a particular order.
Had a panic yesterday having just returned from a walk as he thought he’d lost his hearing aid but it had got snagged in the elastic of his mask ::)
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I am so glad that we don't have to wear masks ;D
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I am so glad that we don't have to wear masks ;D
Oh it makes life interesting KG.
And of course saves on lipstick if you want or wear it and no one will know ;)
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Whenever I go from the cold outdoors into a warm shop, the mask makes my glasses steam up. I can't see a thing, bump into things, knock over shelves. I'm like the scene in Borat when he's in the antique store, except with me it's oranges and melons.
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Yes Heywood I’d had the thought that lipstick sales must have plummeted this year ;D
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A friend of mine has lost several earrings, pulled off when the mask comes off.
I too found that when I had a rainhat on, fitting a mask on, without dislodging my spectacles was ... rather difficult.
TY
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Yes Heywood I’d had the thought that lipstick sales must have plummeted this year ;D
I was just at a zoom meeting and that thought dawned on me then. I actually put blusher on too!
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If we have to wear masks indefinitely will future generations have ears that stick out more?
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Yes Heywood I’d had the thought that lipstick sales must have plummeted this year ;D
I was just at a zoom meeting and that thought dawned on me then. I actually put blusher on too!
Not just me then...It's all so much part of my routine, putting the Face on that I automatically put the lippy on before going out...inly when I take the mask off and see that I have kissed it do I realise ;D ;D ;D It's just a well that we have to change them every day!!!
Carol
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I just put a bit more make up my eyes. I won’t go out without it :)
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To go back to the original post - last week when I was having a doorstep chat to a friend a police office was visiting a house across the road from me, his mask was across his mouth but not his nose. I felt like shouting 'I hope you're going to put that on properly!'. These are the people who are sitting in cars at the borders of my tier 3 area, waiting to collar anyone going into the neighbouring tier 2 area.
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Sorry we digressed.
Yes it is odd that people still have not taken it on board that it should be worn in a particular way and as has been pointed out, even the P M didn’t do it yesterday. Not a good example.
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I sell age restricted goods & often have to ask people if I can see their features...
It's surprising how many actually go to the extremes of removing their mask by the ear(s), sometimes pulling down hoods etc...
All they need do is pull the mask down to their chin, no need to remove.
On the other hand, there are the ones who question why I need them to show their features which often comes with abuse, telling me they're 'x' age! ::)
I politely tell them, if I was as good as be able to tell the ages of people by pairs of eyes I wouldn't be in the job I am.
Seems people can't think sensibly in this day & age...if the answer isn't on their phones they're stumped! ;D
Annie
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I'm heartily sick of TV interviews with people whose masks don't cover their noses. Even the PM's nose was clearly visible yesterday in an interview. Why don't the cameramen tell them to cover up? We all surely know by now that both mouth and nose should be covered. ::)
p.s. Ever tried putting on and taking off a mask when wearing a woolly hat which covers the ears? It's a tricky business.
My daughter says someone with their nose hanging out is more annoying than someone not wearing a mask at all.
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I sell age restricted goods & often have to ask people if I can see their features...
It's surprising how many actually go to the extremes of removing their mask by the ear(s), sometimes pulling down hoods etc...
All they need do is pull the mask down to their chin, no need to remove.
On the other hand, there are the ones who question why I need them to show their features which often comes with abuse, telling me they're 'x' age! ::)
I politely tell them, if I was as good as be able to tell the ages of people by pairs of eyes I wouldn't be in the job I am.
Seems people can't think sensibly in this day & age...if the answer isn't on their phones they're stumped! ;D
Annie
but to pull it down you are touching the front and and then allowing the inside of the mask to touch previously exposed skin potentially picking up contamination.
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Trouble is masks don't stay where they are put. As soon as I put the mask over the end of my nose it rapidly travels upwards until it is sitting on the bit between my eyes - and then I can't see anything!
Pheno
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I find going down steps when wearing a mask quite difficult. The mask rides up and my view is slightly obscured.
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Perhaps we've all got the wrong shaped faces?
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Well, I do know that one of my ears is slightly higher than the other. I discovered this when wearing sunglasses many, many years ago. This means that glasses sit slightly crooked, same with the mask.
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That's very far from unusual. Very few of us have really symmetrical faces.
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All they need do is pull the mask down to their chin, no need to remove.
but to pull it down you are touching the front and and then allowing the inside of the mask to touch previously exposed skin potentially picking up contamination.
Not sure what mask you wear pharma but most people I see & my own, the mask covers from below eyes & over/below chin onto neck.
I ask to see their features i.e. eyes, nose & mouth which doesn't require any previously exposed skin to be touched...
Use forefinger & thumb, pull down to chin (mask is already covering right below the chin)?
Annie
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Today in m+s cafe I saw something which made me think, why bother.
Apart from 60 people eating drinking and chatting to all and sundry, without masks as they are eating, there was a young lady with a tiny baby at one table, at least five people of grandmother age went over and leaned totally into mother and baby, ooh isn’t he lovely, how old is he, etc etc, all this from about 30 cms away. I despair
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Mike
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Wonder if the “ space” measurements were given in inches or yards would people understand better!
Apropos of not much, News today, Police amnesty re surrendering weapons for cash ,a knuckleduster worth £2 .Some knives worth thousands .
Wonder what my rolling pin would fetch? ::)
Victoria .
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The problem I can see re pulling down masks rather than removing it from one ear is the strain it puts on the elastic. If you are asked to do this several times when you are out, it could stretch or even snap it. I have yet to find a mask that is really comfortable.
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I think you'll find that PharmaT is better qualified than most of us to comment on how to use a face mask. :)
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My OH has stopped wearing his hearing aids if he’s going out anywhere and has to wear a mask, as he can’t cope with mask and aids and hand gel! Trouble is he doesn’t hear very well without his aids .........
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The problem I can see re pulling down masks rather than removing it from one ear is the strain it puts on the elastic. If you are asked to do this several times when you are out, it could stretch or even snap it. I have yet to find a mask that is really comfortable.
The only time people are asked to show their features is to make sure they are of legal age to buy age restricted goods so how many times they buy those in a day is the question as one should use a clean mask each day?
I think you'll find that PharmaT is better qualified than most of us to comment on how to use a face mask. :)
I don't think you need qualifications on what I stated earlier, common sense only as I don't see any problem pulling it down with finger & thumb for about 3 - 5 seconds or do without your alcohol, cigs, lighter, medication...
Annie
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Wearing a face mask with a hearing aid in each ear + glasses - very awkward, my ears don't seem to have enough space for all the bits required to sit on them ;D
After shopping I got in the car, removed my mask & left hearing aid promptly pinged off. I had to get out & scrabble around under the seat to find it. Thank goodness I was inside the car - a few weeks ago out on the dog walk I removed one hearing aid as battery ran down, put it in my pocket - the same one I keep poo bags in. Got home, no hearing aid. Went back to the spot in the lane where I thought I got the bag out of my pocket & searched the long grass..... Hahaha unsurprisingly no sign.
The local hospital audiology department are excellent, they sent me out a new one in the post straightaway - but charged me £65 for stupidity. (my word not theirs)
I'm VERY careful removing masks now
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I saw someone the other day with what looked like a hair band (similar in width) over their head with a button on each side where the face mask was then looped onto...very innovative!
May help those with hearing aids & glasses?
Annie
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That sounds like a good idea.
At Rochdale Hosp someone is in the doorway,you have to use one of their masks, even if you are wearing your own.
You are only allowed to the Dept you want five minutes before your appt time.
Those masks are much hotter and stuffier than those we can get but how the Nurses and Drs who wear them do it all day I don ‘t know.
Viktoria.
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I saw someone the other day with what looked like a hair band (similar in width) over their head with a button on each side where the face mask was then looped onto...very innovative!
May help those with hearing aids & glasses?
Annie
I made a lot of those headbands with buttons on for a friend whose Son & DiL are hospital doctors... reason for wearing them is to loop elastic round rather than ears... constant daily wearing of masks makes ears sore... great idea and it works.
Caroline
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You can also get a plastic fitting for the mask to loop onto that sits at the back of your head as I saw a woman wth a hijab on using one so doesnt go over your ears.
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You can also get a plastic fitting for the mask to loop onto that sits at the back of your head as I saw a woman wth a hijab on using one so doesnt go over your ears.
My 9 year-old grandson was making some of those on his 3D printer :D
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I think you'll find that PharmaT is better qualified than most of us to comment on how to use a face mask. :)
I don't think you need qualifications on what I stated earlier, common sense only as I don't see any problem pulling it down with finger & thumb for about 3 - 5 seconds or do without your alcohol, cigs, lighter, medication...
Annie
But many people would not be that careful when removing the mask for you. :-\
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I was behind a lady in the supermarket who had looped her mask over the bobble/ pompom on her hat.
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Does anybody really throw a disposable mask after one use, or wash a fabric one after every wear?
Pheno
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Does anybody really throw a disposable mask after one use, or wash a fabric one after every wear?
Pheno
I do. I have a bag tied to the bannister to take a fresh mask from when going out.
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Does anybody really throw a disposable mask after one use, or wash a fabric one after every wear?
Pheno
Yes. I am in New South Wales. I wore a Single Use Mask on the train to Sydney last week. Everyone in the carriage wore a mask. In my handbag were 5 more, as suggested by my General Practioner. I took my mask off when I got off train. I put it in the bin, copying other passengers. I put a new mask on, and found the lift up to the concourse to the bus stop to take a bus to my specialist. Bus driver had a mask on, so too everyone on bus. At the waiting room at the specialists, the receptionist took my temp, and opened a bag for "face mask please. We have a single use one here for every a patient. "
Same protocol throughout the day.
I have family members who are essential workers, flying in and out if interstate destinations. Even late Nov ... Wear single use mask to airport, get temp taken and complete questions and forms ... replace own supplied single use mask with one in a sealed clear envelope from aircrew, flight from Sydney to Darwin.
I have three sets of multi use masks c/with filter insert .... not yet needed to use.
NSW health has strict contact tracing teams, and there's currently no community spread of covid.
JM
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Does anybody really throw a disposable mask after one use, or wash a fabric one after every wear?
Pheno
Yes, I do. I haven't used any disposable ones, but only wear washable ones once. I've 7 or 8 and use them as required.
Edit: the advice here is not to touch the front of the mask with your hands, put on and remove by using the elastic loops, so it would seem the people doing that are doing the right thing. :)
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I don't really know what goes on here cos I haven't used any form of public transport since March and neither have I been anywhere near a hospital.
I was just thinking of the few trips I have made to a garden centre really where I either wear my own disposable of fabric mask and nobody offers me a different one as I enter.
Pheno
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Does anybody really throw a disposable mask after one use, or wash a fabric one after every wear?
Pheno
Yes, I do. I haven't used any disposable ones, but only wear washable ones once. I've 7 or 8 and use them as required.
Edit: the advice here is not to touch the front of the mask with your hands, put on and remove by using the elastic loops, so it would seem the people doing that are doing the right thing. :)
I have no idea how i remove my mask, I haven't ever thought about it. I don't wash my fabric ones after every use if only for a few mins and neither do I dispose of my other ones, if only very limited use.
Neither do I quarantine parcels, post, food or anything else that comes into the house but I do wash my hands after every outside trip.
Neither I nor the rest of my household have suffered from covid (or indeed any ill health) so consequently have not passed anything on.
I agree be careful and minimise the risk but I cannot go to such quarantine lengths. Think it must be in my bones as I did not have any vaccinations as a child and neither did i sterilise my children's bottles. None of us have ever suffered from anything untoward. My philosophy is no immunity without a bit of exposure.
Pheno
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I haven't read all of this thread but i made a lot of masks but found each one steamed my glasses, I can't do without them, so resorted into buying disposable ones, I have found if you wear them as high as possible and makes suse you pinch your nose to seal they don't steam up , they are not as pretty as home-made ones but do a better job
LM
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Perhaps the scientists amongst you can answer this one for me - We are told that we should wash our hands with soap as the soap and friction break down the virus's outer coating. So why are we told that we should wash face masks in 60 degree or hotter water? Surely the soap would do the job in hand hot water?
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Perhaps the scientists amongst you can answer this one for me - We are told that we should wash our hands with soap as the soap and friction break down the virus's outer coating. So why are we told that we should wash face masks in 60 degree or hotter water? Surely the soap would do the job in hand hot water?
Not all studies say that tbh. Application of hear is an additional factor in increasing the chance of denaturing the virus. There have been studies showing that washing at 40C is sufficient with some studies showing non-biological powders better than biological ones.
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Thank you PharmaT. :)
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Thank you PharmaT. :)
That should be application of heat obviously. Why predictive text thought I mean hear I have no idea.
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It has a mind of its own! I got the gist of what you had said, thank you. :)
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Thank you PharmaT. :)
That should be application of heat obviously. Why predictive text thought I mean hear I have no idea.
Just shows we read what we expect to be there, I didn't even notice that. :)
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Like the point about non-bio powder. I come up in itchy rashes if ever I use bio powder, even if I add extra rinses.
Like Pharma T I wash my masks after each use and more or less rotate them. I modified a couple of available patterns until I got a really good fit, and make them with quite soft elastics, and metal nose- bits, and as I said, by modifying available patterns have managed a good fit on cheeks, and even got a decent shape to "lodge" my glasses on. Did the same for OH, (although I don't let him out at present, 'cos he's asthmatic!)
I also use disposable gloves when in supermarket, and peel them back when I get into the car, abd apply sanitiser to unload. (Can't decide if I really ought to add another pair to drive and unload, suppose I ought to, really.)
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Like the point about non-bio powder. I come up in itchy rashes if ever I use bio powder, even if I add extra sinses.
Like Pharma T I wash my masks after each use and more or less rotate them. I modified a couple of available patterns until I got a really good fit, and make them with quite soft elastics, and metal nose- bits, and as I said, by modifying available patterns have managed a good fit on cheeks, and even got a decent shape to "lodge" my glasses on. Did the same for OH, (although I don't let him out at present, 'cos he's asthmatic!)
I also use disposable gloves when in supermarket, and peel them back when I get into the car, abd apply sanitiser to unload. (Can't decide if I really ought to add another pair to drive and unload, suppose I ought to, really.)
I don't bother with gloves as they are potentilly another vector. I sanitise my hands, get a trolley, clean it, sanitise my hands again, get to car, sanitise hands, open car load up, sanitise again, drive home, unload, wash hands, sanitise shopping in batches (where able to) washing hand between batches then sanitise the surface used at the end and wash hands again. Although I try and plan to avoid going to a shop where possible.
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I can only hope that at the end of a palaver along those lines people feel really safe even if no skin left on your hands and they are really sore.
Is it worth it? I have never done any of that and I am currently as safe as those who do, without the time consuming tasks and the rawness of hands or the cost of lots of masks and gloves and bottles of sanitiser.
I agree minimise risk but it seems there is some OCD about routines/procedures and heaven help those people who have previously been diagnosed with OCD.
I can't actually see that it is achieving anything other than making you feel safer but if so then thats a help.
Pheno
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Is it worth it? I have never done any of that and I am currently as safe as those who do, without the time consuming tasks and the rawness of hands or the cost of lots of masks and gloves and bottles of sanitiser
Pheno
Are you actually saying that you don't bother to wear a mask? Or have I misunderstood?
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Yes you have misunderstood as no I am not saying that. I am saying that I don't throw the disposable ones after only a few minutes wear, neither do I wash the others after every use.
Pheno
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Surely it depends where and for how long you've worn the mask? If it's a couple of minutes just popping into a shop, I wouldn't throw it away or wash it. However if I'd been in a crowded place or on public transport or worn it for an hour or more, I would.
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Yes thats really what I am questioning. I got the impression from reading some of the earlier posts that once worn they were disposed of or washed and I was interested to see if people were doing that after say, only 10 minutes wear. I am not and it sounds as if you are not either.
Pheno
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Initially I had disposable masks but then went to cloth ones when I realised we were in for the long haul. I've found a maker whose masks are really comfortable, as there is plenty of room at the front - they stand out from the face - so they're easy to wear, three layer, with adjustable straps, and I don't end up eating mask if I have a conversation with someone. Another plus is that I can wear mask and specs and the specs don't mist up. As daughter and I have a shop I spend four hours in there on some days of the week. I am masked and behind a plastic screen and surrounded by goodly supplies of antibac and wipes. Obviously after that the mask goes straight into the wash. However I agree, that with a short trip I will wear a mask more than once.
I should add - for those who don't know - that daughter and I are both diagnosed as having contracted covid whilst she was seriously ill in hospital earlier in the year. She was due life-saving surgery at the end of March which was postponed, but she eventually had surgery in August. Thank goodness she has now fully recovered from both. I'm on a waiting list for lung capacity tests as I was struggling a bit a few weeks ago but hopefully have turned the corner now. Don't think of covid as anything like fiu - it's not. It makes your lungs feel as though they are coated with ground glass. Not nice. Stay safe everyone.
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Initially I had disposable masks but then went to cloth ones when I realised we were in for the long haul. I've found a maker whose masks are really comfortable, as there is plenty of room at the front - they stand out from the face - so they're easy to wear, three layer, with adjustable straps, and I don't end up eating mask if I have a conversation with someone. Another plus is that I can wear mask and specs and the specs don't mist up. As daughter and I have a shop I spend four hours in there on some days of the week. I am masked and behind a plastic screen and surrounded by goodly supplies of antibac and wipes. Obviously after that the mask goes straight into the wash. However I agree, that with a short trip I will wear a mask more than once.
I should add - for those who don't know - that daughter and I are both diagnosed as having contracted covid whilst she was seriously ill in hospital earlier in the year. She was due life-saving surgery at the end of March which was postponed, but she eventually had surgery in August. Thank goodness she has now fully recovered from both. I'm on a waiting list for lung capacity tests as I was struggling a bit a few weeks ago but hopefully have turned the corner now. Don't think of covid as anything like fiu - it's not. It makes your lungs feel as though they are coated with ground glass. Not nice. Stay safe everyone.
It makes your lungs look like ground glass too, we refer to the image on x-rays as ground glass opacities.
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That's really interesting Pharma. When I was first getting that pain I tried to think what it felt like and thought perhaps it felt like rough sandpaper. And then eventually I decided it wasn't sandpaper, it felt as though the back of my lungs were lined with ground glass.
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Sounds really nasty GS and I hope you get your lung capacity test soon.
I’m very pleased to hear that your daughter has made a good recovery and hope you will too soon.
I have made over 1100+ face coverings in various designs for local charities in the group I’m involved with and I’ve certainly found using three layers is preferable and a nose wire which can be pinched in to bring it very close in meaning wearing glasses is less problematic. Also ones where the sides come in line with the cheek bone at the side and narrowed with nice soft elastic. Think of a scallop shell and that would be a good description ...it means it fits close to the face and no gaps. It covers the nose well and fits neatly under chin and doesn’t ride up if you’re talking....
I wear mine more than once if I’ve only had it on for a moment or two but if it’s for longer say half an hour it gets washed...
Likewise shopping non perishable sits on a bench in my garage for three days, perishable pkts get washed and other items reboxed... all post sits in the porch for three days too unless it looks important as do packages.
It amazes me how many people just walk straight past sanitisers for hands and baskets/trolleys when going into a food shop... I want to say something ... I’ve been sorely tempted but you never know what reaction you’ll get!
I do wonder why people don’t think covering their noses isn’t important too... and why don’t they tighten the elastic if they slip down or find one that fits better!
Caroline
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I'm of the wear it once and wash it persuasion, but hand sanitizer at shop entrances I'm not sure about. If it's a trip to just one shop and the first "foreign" object I've touched since leaving home, might I not pick up more germs than I kill off?
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I'm of the wear it once and wash it persuasion, but hand sanitizer at shop entrances I'm not sure about. If it's a trip to just one shop and the first "foreign" object I've touched since leaving home, might I not pick up more germs than I kill off?
It's not just about keeping you safe though - it's to stop you spreading virus to other people and objects in the shop. Even if you think your hands aren't carrying virus, you can't be sure.
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Thanks Mike, as someone who lives alone, quarantines or washes everything that comes into the house and minimises forays into the big outside I'd not thought of it that way.
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It's not just about keeping you safe though - it's to stop you spreading virus to other people and objects in the shop. Even if you think your hands aren't carrying virus, you can't be sure.
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Yes but if everybody was very particular at looking out for themselves we wouldn't have to be concerned about others. I wonder how many shop/garden centre products have been tested at the end of a day to see if they do carry traces of virus. I would be very interested in the result.
Pheno
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Yes but if everybody was very particular at looking out for themselves we wouldn't have to be concerned about others.
Equally, though if we all were very particular at looking out for each other, we wouldn't have to worry about ourselves!
it's all about breaking the links in transmission, in either direction.
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Yes i see your point. If you had the choice of only one though which would you choose. I assume most people would look after themselves, after all if people didn't do that then how could you assume that they would be interested in looking after others.
I think be particular about yourself and leave others to be particular about themselves.
Pheno
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This is probably a bit of an aside but here (France) you can get boxes of single-use masks with elastic that goes round the back of the head rather than round the ears and, speaking as a hearing aid wearer, it's a great deal better. I found, as several people have mentioned, that removing the round-the-ear masks seriously risks pulling off the hearing aids :D
The patterns for cloth masks are also easily adaptable for round-the-head cords since you just have one cord and thread it down the side slots either side of the head, leaving a loop at the top to go over the crown. I then tie the dangly bits around the back of the head lower down. If I was capable of drawing, I'd illustrate, but I'm not so I can't :(
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I don't touch the sanitizer bottle with my fingers, I touch it with the side of my hand, the fat bit on the side of my little finger nearer to the wrist, makes me feel happier, after all some people haven't sanitized or washed their hands before leaving home , we just have to be careful and aware all the time
Louisa Maud
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Out of interest, has it ever been proved that the virus lives on surfaces for any length of time - outside of laboratory conditions? I think if it did we would have heard more of people who haven't come into contact with anyone, yet have caught it from shopping, parcels or post. I've never quarantined anything, I just wash my hands after putting shopping away or collecting post.
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Out of interest, has it ever been proved that the virus lives on surfaces for any length of time - outside of laboratory conditions? I think if it did we would have heard more of people who haven't come into contact with anyone, yet have caught it from shopping, parcels or post. I've never quarantined anything, I just wash my hands after putting shopping away or collecting post.
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I have not read of any confirmation that live virus survives on surfaces for any length of time.
Bleach kills it almost instantly, hydrogen peroxide (as in hair lightener) in a few minutes.
If you go outside on a cold night and watch your breath as you breathe, then watch it as you talk, then as you cough you will see that talking to people is how this virus is spread.
Repeat with a mask on and you will see that a mask has a limited effect.
The virus has already spread everywhere, what we want to achieve is stop people dying, if you are at risk then look after yourself, if you want to help then stop pretending that a few minutes chat will do no harm.
Mike
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Part of the reason I use gloves as well as sanitiser is that very slightly reduces the number of times I dehydrate my poor dry hands with sanitiser. I'm prepared to fiddle about to stop transmission to or from me! Basic civilised consideration, I'd think.
So sorry to hear of the Covid issue, Greensleeves. I do hope that things do improve for you both. You really have suffered a lot, and had a great deal of anxiety to work through, too, this year. Let's hope it does all ease up in the New Year. I certainly don't think many of us would be very sanguine about another year fully like this.
TY
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I'm allergic to perfumes amongst other things - not seriously but enough to make life uncomfortable or worse. I carry my own sanitiiser which I use all the time. I've learnt to enter a shop and then stand to one side whilst doing my hands - unlike some others who block the doors. The smell of some of the sanitisers the few shops I've been in , set me off sneezing or coughing - last thing you want when there's covid around. My daughter says one shop the sanitiser smells like tequila, which I wouldn't know as I don't drink. I find masks helpful now as the smell of other ladies generous perfumes is muted behind the mask!
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I wonder how many shop/garden centre products have been tested at the end of a day to see if they do carry traces of virus. I would be very interested in the result.
I don't know if retail goods have been tested in real life conditions.
as far as I know the virus doesn't survive as long in open air. Garden centre is one of the few places I'm relaxed about visiting. I don't have a car so have only gone (twice this year) to the one I can walk to. I won't be visiting the one at the far side of town until next summer as the journey involves 2 bus journeys each way + a wait at the bus station. I judge that travelling on a bus is a greater risk to my health than being in a draughty garden centre. I usually cleaned or washed my hands after leaving a garden centre pre-Covid, washed hands after unpacking purchases at home, and washed them again after using/planting the items I'd bought, so no real change.
I went on my first Covid long-distance bus journey (40 minutes) last week to a hospital appointment. Man across aisle from me wore his mask below his nose. Average of 6 passengers on a big bus on outward & return journeys. I took my own hand-sanitiser + spare disposable mask.
I've worn disposable masks only for medical appointments. I've bought a few washable ones. Otherwise, for brief visits to local shops, I improvise with tea-towels which are worn once then put in a 60 degrees wash-load. Often I'm the sole customer in a shop. 4 of the shops have a constant change of air from open doors.
The law in Scotland is to wear a face-covering, it doesn't specify a mask. Religious face-coverings count so I made use of my large stock of tea-towels.
My area was in Tier 4 until yesterday.