If you haven’t read of my experience in the COVID hitting home thread, you might check it out. I will never again remain silent about the unmasked in close proximity to me or anyone I love.
Hope you remain healthy.
@CottonTales, I just wanted to get done and get out. We’ve known this doctor for many years. Unlike too many others, he doesn’t resent questions. Years ago, I quoted an old family doctor’s preference for “tincture of time” vs. jumping to treatments that could have nasty side effects and he agreed. Every time, the problem has resolved without aggressive treatment. So we put up with stuff we’re don’t especially like. The more I think about it, the less I want to continue seeing him, but dh does not want to hunt for new doctor when we’ll have to change again before long.
@VaBluebird , it was discouraging. Despite knowing (way too much) about his political leanings, I did not expect him to fail to wear a mask properly. It makes me angry and sad, and disappointed in him.
We have something similar to those KN95’s (with ear loops) and also have a South African respirator type mask (around the head no valve and molded shape). The KN95 definitely fits tighter and filters more than an ordinary surgical mask, but doesn’t fit quite as tight as the South African respirator where I can pull the elastics tighter around my head. It’s a pretty good seal. However the molded mask one has foam over the nose on the interior which is comfortable and helps with the seal, but also means I can’t get my glasses as close to my eyes as they should be and it drives me crazy.
Oh, I’m guessing they bothered plenty of people, but we’ve all seen the videos of people becoming belligerent when challenged on mask usage, so most of us don’t engage. I do sneer sometimes.
Like @Silpat I was disappointment in my doctor’s visit today. There were two women working the front desk, both with a mask and face shield. One had a paper mask on, under her nose, the other had a cloth mask that was too big for her, so it slid down to her mouth. Once in the back, the nurse and PA both were wearing a shield and mask properly.
Had I been seeing the doctor and practice owner, I would have mentioned the front staff, but knew it wouldn’t help to tell the PA. She actually walked me to the front, so assume she has seen how the mask are being worn. She did say they started wearing the shields this week and we commiserated on the lack of comfort.
@snowball. The attempt was there. Doctors offices are not getting the ppp that you might be thinking their getting. My office just started getting more masks and surgical gowns last week after 3 months of trying. I won’t get mine from Amazon… Lol… My office also has the acrylic plastic shield guard thing. I have face shields and it’s optional now. Might change that but will see.
What is up with all the people wearing masks that don’t seem to fit them at all?! I feel like I see this so often - are they stretched out? Do they need to be washed to regain shape? Just as I can’t imagine NOT wearing a mask, I can’t imagine walking around with one that is sliding off my face!
Well part of the problem is finding masks that fit in the first place. I bought about half a dozen cloth masks online that are all too big for me. I have since replaced them – but there’s no opportunity to try them on in advance. (It’s irrelevant for me right now, because everything is closed down again here – but I wanted to have enough of a supply so that I could wear a fresh mask any time I went out and then toss it into the laundry when I get home. I’ve tried washing the too-big masks in hot water hoping they shrink, with mixed results.
^^^ @calmom , what part of them doesn’t fit? Too high on your face? Too long of elastic?
If it doesn’t fit as in slightly loose, try making a small note in the elastic that goes around the ears. It can snug it up. Target masks are kinda loose BTW.
On Esty, think I mentioned this, but got some for my son and they come high up on the nose. Very comfortable and it’s never falling down…
I make standard size by starting with a 9x7 piece of fabric and a 7" piece of elastic for each ear. My brothers said they’d like them a little bigger so 10x8" for them (and they are a little smaller after sewing). For younger kids, I do them 7x5" (ages 4-7) and 6x8" for ages 8+. Some people like ties, some like elastic. If I have an odd size piece of fabric, I make it work.
I recently started adding a pipecleaner wire to the nose, and just received an order for metal pieces so I’ll see how they work.
I find they stay in place pretty well until I start to talk, then there is a lot of slipping and moving of the masks.
My favorite mask is the one I got on Etsy that has a nose wire and adjustable ear loops. It doesn’t move even when I talk.
I also have ones from Target that fit OK, but I can only use them if I won’t be talking (e.g, taking a walk) since they would definitely slip down otherwise. I primarily use those as back-up for my Etsy mask.
I have a variety of masks and I haven’t had trouble with any slipping down. I do often make the ear elastic shorter. They feel very secure and no problem talking though I often think I sound muffled!
I have just switched from ‘surgical masks’ to cloth masks. I found a very cute print mask on Etsy, I like it so much, I just ordered a bunch more in other colors. I said to my S, gone are the days when I had to think which shoes to wear with my outfit, now I have to coordinate my mask to my outfit!
I have about 20 masks. Eight from The Gap, a six-pack from Nordstrom, etc… My favorite was one a tennis friend made me with cutest a cute print. I put it down for a couple minutes and my 9 month old puppy stole it and chewed it. 
@abasket – ear loops a little bit too long. I was thinking of doing something to tighten them up, but it ended up being easier just to buy more masks from a different source. My main point is an ill-fitting mask is not always intentional – sometimes they seem fine at first, and it only becomes apparent that the mask is too loose after the person is out and about.
Yeah, seriously just tie a little know in each one - takes less than a minute!
Certainly there are exceptions and someones mask that seemed to fit at home on first try ends up being too big while out and about. But there are quite a few people out there with those ill fitting masks that I doubt they fit fine when they left the house and then don’t when they are out and about!
Yesterday my H and I went to a distanced gathering at the beach with a total of 7 of us. We were getting together to celebrate our friendship with a close friend who had just passed away.( not from Covid) We agreed ahead of time that we would bring our own snacks and beverages and chairs and wear masks. We set up our chairs at the spot our friend has sat at almost daily for over 25 years. No hugs were exchanged and we set the chairs 6 feet apart between each family group. We met at 5 pm and the beach was still pretty busy. We saw lots of groups and I think we were the only group on the beach in masks.
I’ll admit I got our local grocery store in trouble with their higher ups by doing the survey they provide on the receipt.
I almost always do the survey. Up until now I’ve almost always liked the store - and I’ve seen improvements from suggestions I’ve made (exactly as I suggested) plus been contacted once when there was an issue so I know they’re read.
This time so many employees were not wearing the mask over their nose. We talked with our cashier (high schooler?) about it and she said the store never told them how they had to wear the masks. When we mentioned trying to stay safe for my 92 year old FIL she said, “Well at least you’re wearing a mask,” and she was clueless about how that doesn’t help me (much) from her.
Now we’ve been assured from our local manager that they have talked with all of their employees about proper usage and why. He also told us next time to first contact the local manager on duty. Why? That manager had to see how their employees were wearing them. It shouldn’t be news to them. They could have fixed it if they wanted to. Nope, for this I’m going up the chain first.
And if it’s not fixed next time we go, I won’t be shopping there any longer. I prefer shopping local, but if our local grocery store doesn’t try to keep us safe, never mind. I’ll switch to Amazon and similar.
I can understand their not confronting the handful of customers who insist on being jerks, but their employees should be following the law in our state. Some of us still want to try to avoid the virus.
Fortunately the selfish customers were easy to stay away from and ignore, though I feel for the employees as they’re not protected from them when they check out.
I saw a new one the other day at my supermarket. Most people who wear the mask incorrectly have it down beneath their nose. My cashier had hers over her nose but she had folded the bottom part under so that it was just barely covering her lower lip. 