Normally when I go out to the local Tesco (10 minutes walk away; a couple of times a week), I wear two very long scarves wrapped around my face and mouth. The supermarket practises strict social distancing. Perhaps 30% of the customers are wearing some form of facial covering. Nobody really ever comes close to anyone else. The supermarket is huge and airy... so there aren’t quite the problems that come from being in a relatively confined space (which would further potentiate the infectivity of the virus).
I appreciate the importance of wearing a mask.... to inhibit the transmission of the virus (from me); and to foster confidence generally as the economy moves slowly towards opening up.
The government is encouraging facial coverings, especially on public transport and in more crowded environments.
With this in mind, I bought a couple of days ago masks offered on sale by Diabetes.co.uk. One has just arrived... and I have to tell you I am horribly, horribly disappointed.
Although it is a recognised branded product with a rating of n99, it is just totally unsuitable for me. It was monumentally overpriced (up to almost double the price of other suppliers)... and it is for single use only. As a pensioner, there is no way I could ever afford to spend £22 each time I go shopping! I am truly disappointed. Yes, ‘caveat emptor’ (‘let the buyer beware’). I should have taken more care when responding to the offer sent by Diabetes.co.uk. (I have another mask coming from DCUK.... a lower spec n95... on offer at half price... but, again, it will be unusable, for the reasons above).
Bearing in mind that the main reasons to wear a mask are to prevent ME from spreading the virus (which could happen in a public place IF I am not showing symptoms [but have the disease] and therefore not self-isolating) AND to foster a sense of security in my fellow man, I have ordered a more expensive CYCLING mask... which is reusable, will keep out most stuff, and will prevent droplets issuing from me.... and which also looks the part! It will certainly, I think, encourage confidence in my fellow shoppers. And, since I invested in an electric bike a year ago... and since I live in a city.... it will double up in protecting me against the pollution hazards of urban travel, albeit that the virus has, for the moment, neutralised much of that.
I am very disappointed in the approach that DCUK has taken in marketing these masks. Very disappointed.
The modern way to market is for many of our socially responsible companies and corporations to guide the purchaser to avoid a mistaken purchase. Sometimes this means spelling out clearly the nature of the product.... and even to add a gentle warning if the product is unlikely to meet expectations (in the case where the product has a narrow range of applications).
I note that DCUK are not accepting returns (even if the product is still sealed, though obviously not if it has been opened). I note too that other suppliers are accepting returns, in line with distance selling regulations.