XP500FUN wrote: ↑Wed May 20, 2020 5:08 pm.
One thing I did notice in the countryside there were no walkers or push bikers with masks on.
Because they don't have to, and it's part of good risk management not to ask them to?
Think of virus spread via breathing where a viral load, strong enough to cause harm is a cup of ink.
Chuck a cup of ink in a sink of water and put your hands in. That's the equivalent of using public transport. Likely you will get ink on them. So wear a mask to make sure you aren't emitting that viral load.
Chuck it in a bath of water, that's like visiting a supermarket. Less chance of getting that viral load on someone, but still enough to warrant wearing a mask to prevent the risk.
Now think about the outdoors, in the countryside. That's like chucking that cup of ink in the sea. Unless you are right next to where it lands, it's highly unlikely you'll get any ink on you. Even if you are there , the tidal forces, like the wind outside, will disperse it enough.
The benefits to the population of being able to be outside, in the open air, and exercising far outweigh the risks of contracting a viral load, especially if social distancing is met by the majority.
Disincentivise going out to exercise by asking everyone to wear a mask everywhere, and a lot of that benefit will be lost, because folks will simply decide that they can't be bothered, and will go for a drive with the windows up and the air con blasting instead.
There is nothing to stop you wearing a mask anywhere you want to, and nobody should be ashamed of doing so. Likewise nobody should be shaming anyone for not wearing one where the risks are very low.