Why masks in airports?

[clifford]

I accidentally did it a few days ago. Genuine accident as they’re not worn anywhere else anymore and it didn’t even occur to me. Nobody said a word. Remembered when I was in the lounge

I was in the lounge earlier today, and got up to go to the loo. Realised I wasn't wearing a mask and just continued.

No animals were harmed in this adventure.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

In VIE this morn and not a mask in sight

 

[Beasley]

No longer needed in Tassie airports from Friday night ….. thank heavens.

 

[cwphoto]

What happens these days if I walk in Tullamarine without a mask? Do I get arrested?

Nothing happens.

 

[Pushka]

Nothing in Scotland - Inverness right now, and think also nothing on the flight. We might though.

 

[Mattg]

I've been through quite a few airports over the past two months where masks are no longer required. I'd estimate that generally about 25% of passengers and about 5% of airport employees were wearing masks at airports where it was optional.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Only in Australia we get this bits and pieces approach. I mean I nearly fell over when I heard Victoria will take its own approach and it’s not on the agenda at the moment.

Masks should be non existent at all airports and onboard across this land.

Still playing politics with this over 2 years in

Almost enough to make me hurl up my delicious lounge breakfast.

Incidentally I ate it without a mask.

 

[JohnK]

Masks should be non existent at all airports and onboard across this land.

Why non existent? Surely you'd only stop wearing masks if you didn't care about picking up an infection not because someone told you that masks are no longer compulsory.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Why non existent? Surely you'd only stop wearing masks if you didn't care about picking up an infection not because someone told you that masks are no longer compulsory.

Exactly.

So anyway… I finally got covid This weekend. Lungs ok, but acute sore throat. Cannot swallow without the aid of painkillers and throat spray (lidocaine).

Have a some ideas where I caught it, but it was an event I couldn’t avoid. I was the only person wearing a mask.

Why anyone would deliberately not want to wear a mask to stop others getting infected is difficult to understand. My symptoms aren’t life-threatening, but they’re not pleasant, either.

People are suggesting that we ‘just get’ covid every year, like the flu.

The problem is I’ve only had the flu twice… so once every 20 years or so. Suggesting I get these covid symptoms every year? No thanks!!!

 

[RooFlyer]

Why non existent? Surely you'd only stop wearing masks if you didn't care about picking up an infection not because someone told you that masks are no longer compulsory.

Just a question. Did you wear ( non compulsory) masks prior to Covid - when killer flu was rampant?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Just a question. Did you wear ( non compulsory) masks prior to Covid - when killer flu was rampant?

For me no. But a lot has changed. Mask wearing was never a ‘thing’ in ‘western’ countries. It is now. We also know better now we’ve been through covid. And again, for me, I got flu once every twenty years… not every year.

If we were all getting the [proper] flu every year, maybe masks would have been more prevalent.

 

[aus_flyer]

We should ban cars too. Have you seen how many people those things kill? I don't think it's worth the risk.

 

[NM]

I wonder how many people are planning to wear face masks when visiting Kmart, Bunnings and The Good Guys after it was revealed those businesses are undertaking facial recognition of customers?

Of course those businesses claim the facial recognition is to limit or identify theft from their stores. So perhaps over time we will find only criminals wearing face masks in public to avoid facial recognition technology. I wonder when airports will implement a "Face Coverings Must Be Removed" signage similar to banks requiring motorcycle helmets to be removed, in the name of identifying passengers on a no-fly list or terror watch-lists?

Times, attitudes and situations change over time.

 

[CMA222]

We should ban cars too. Have you seen how many people those things kill? I don't think it's worth the risk.

Yes around 1M deaths per year attributed to car accidents world wide. Covid-19 deaths reported in two years world wide 6.3M. Cars have a huge number of safety devices and in-built safety technology but the problem is the human operators. Face masks don't take much effort but they are also operated by humans. Face masks can be turned off. Perhaps the safety devices and safety technology in cars should be optional as well.

 

[Beano]

I caught a cold in Madrid at 30C every day in late August. It happened in a crowded Prado art gallery when I passed in front of a person who literally sneezed in my face without any attempt at covering the sneeze. It made for a miserable end of a two month European holiday. Covid is a different matter with ongoing implications if you survive. Personally I will be wearing a mask in crowds, however I will probably wear one with a valve which will allow me to breathe easier and stop my glasses steaming up. With a no mask mandate, I don't need to protect you from my infections whilst protecting myself from your infections. With all the Covid mandates, seasonal infections such a flu were markedly reduced. I wonder why? Perhaps it was isolation, mask wearing and social distancing. I can avow to social distancing as I would not have caught that cold in Madrid if I hadn't been so close to the sneezer.

 

[andye]

Exactly.

So anyway… I finally got covid This weekend. Lungs ok, but acute sore throat. Cannot swallow without the aid of painkillers and throat spray (lidocaine).

Have a some ideas where I caught it, but it was an event I couldn’t avoid. I was the only person wearing a mask.

Why anyone would deliberately not want to wear a mask to stop others getting infected is difficult to understand. The symptoms aren’t life-threatening, but they’re not pleasant, either.

People are suggesting that we ‘just get’ covid every year, like the flu.

The problem is I’ve only had the flu twice… so once every 20 years or so. Suggesting I get these covid symptoms every year? No thanks!!!

Out of interest were you wearing an N95 or a basic mask?

 

[Beano]

Out of interest were you wearing an N95 or a basic mask?

not life threatening? Tell that to those who died, or at least their families!

 

[andye]

not life threatening? Tell that to those who died, or at least their families!

Maybe you responded to wrong post
My point is that if one is concerned about risk enough to demand others act differently to the risk assessment deemed from government, why wouldn't you choose the best personal protection one can

 

[Denali]

Sydney VA this morning and Im guessing 85-90% masks. I will be wearing ours on the plane as much as possible but we're row 1 so lots of people walking past me for boarding.

Our driver picked us up this morning and told us she was unwell (chest infection/on antibiotics) and wearing a mask so we also wore masks during our drive to the airport - yes, we are those people. Im too old and fat to get sick.

 

[Beano]

Maybe you responded to wrong post
My point is that if one is concerned about risk enough to demand others act differently to the risk assessment deemed from government, why wouldn't you choose the best personal protection one can

Sorry, meant for MEL_traveller.