Covid: Why Scotland needs a campaign to get people to wear face masks properly – Laura Waddell

If you have travelled by train, bus or underground any time in the last six months, it’s likely you’ll have encountered a fellow passenger wearing a mask slung louchly underneath their nose, rendering the thing useless.

Former Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn demonstrates the 'nose out' face mask style, although he's not on public transport, in a shop or other confined space in this picture (Picture: Leon Neal/Getty Images)

This phenomenon can be seen in supermarkets and shops too, but in frustration stakes, it really stands out on public transport – perhaps because when the doors seal shut with a dull thud before a train pulls away from a station, it’s uncomfortably, acutely apparent that passengers are sharing the same air chamber.

Most people seem aware they’re meant to wear a mask and – medical exceptions aside – will do so before shopping or travelling. There are memes about remembering the classic combo of keys, wallet, and phone when heading out, now with the addition of having to run back indoors to pick up a mask. It has become culturally ingrained, and it’s a familiar sight to see people fiddling with the ear loops on their way into shops.

There’s likely to be a small percentage of people who, for whatever reason, should be wearing a mask but don’t bother at all; those who struggle with other daily tasks. But what’s more curious and more frustrating are the many others who will wear a mask, but not correctly.

They seem motivated enough to do just the bare minimum, perhaps to avoid awkward scrutiny or the prospect of being challenged, although individuals are not meant to query the maskless – an adversarial approach would help no one. Besides, there’s always the chance they’ll take a swing at you (something which happened on the London Underground a couple of weeks ago).

Most importantly, however, nobody should be harassing people with medical or accessibility reasons for not wearing a mask. Their reasoning for not doing so is their own business, but some opt in to wearing a printed lanyard from the Hidden Disabilities sunflower lanyards scheme which the website describes as a “discreet sign” the wearer may need assistance – and during Covid, it may be used to signal the wearer is unable to wear a mask.

People in Scotland more likely to wear masks?

A man wearing a face mask below his nose walks past a screen displaying the currency exchange rates in Moscow (Picture: Alexander Nemenov/AFP via Getty Images)

But my focus here is the nose-out brigade, who will half-heartedly pop on a mask in the first place and cover only their mouth with it. There was enough public pressure to have encouraged them to wear one. That message got through. So might hammering home the point that they need to be worn over the nose encourage these people to pull it up their faces a bit?

Looking around, general adherence to the face-covering guidelines appears strong, but this is purely anecdotal. Andrew Marr was impressed enough to write in his Spectator column of all places that on a visit to Scotland, “…the difference in atmosphere over Covid is almost tangible compared with London. People are much more likely to be masked and much more cautious”.

Scotland was the first nation in the UK to officially recommend the use of face coverings, back in April. In the government guidelines, it does say masks must be worn correctly. From the Scottish government's website, “A face covering should cover your mouth and nose.” It also spells out, amusingly and pointedly, what doesn’t count as an exemption – “not wanting to wear a face covering” and “mild discomfort when wearing one”.

Foul language for a foul attitude

But is it time for a louder public health campaign about unmasked noses? I think so. Let’s say it bluntly. It’s simple: the mask goes over your nose. Existing signage, everywhere from shop doors to train window decals, could be updated to make the point more strongly. Because people were listening to the first bit, about wearing masks. We just need to tack on a ‘correctly’ and make sure it’s audible.

If I sound calm and relaxed about this, it’s a facade. I wrote an earlier draft of this column filled with swearing, after finding myself on a bus alongside three middle-aged men letting their noses hang out. It was so angry I had to scrap it and write about something else entirely. But this is how I feel. Those not wearing masks properly are sending out a massive ‘f*** you’ to everyone around them who has to breathe in the same air.

I resent them, in the same way I resent those who manspread on public transport or take up seats with bags, but rather than just inconveniencing others by using shared public space in a selfish way, the consequences of spreading this god-awful virus are deadly serious. While I’m hesitant to blame individuals for non-compliance rather than look to what the government could be doing, from a community perspective not wearing a mask properly is deeply, tangibly inconsiderate of others consequently exposed to greater risk.

Struggling to breathe

Recently, scientists in Brazil linked not wearing a mask to antisocial personality traits: “callousness, deceitfulness, hostility, impulsivity, irresponsibility, manipulativeness, and risk-taking.” The trait of risk-taking might also correlate with those most likely to be taking unnecessary journeys at the moment.

Like a flasher intent on letting their anatomy hang out in the breeze for all to see, there’s something phallic about all these noses poking out. The comparisons to not wanting to wear a condom are obvious. It doesn’t feel as good as going without. It’s a hassle. But everyone is uncomfortable, pal.

And looking around, most often it is older men with their noses out. The only thing special about that category of people, other than their advanced ability to grow nose hair, is that they’re more likely to be susceptible to the virus. It’s in their own interest too to get a grip. What’s worse – pulling a bit of fabric up an inch or ending up on a hospital drip, struggling to breathe at all? Some of these guys are probably going to find out.

So let’s say it loud and say it clear. Put your nose away. Nobody wants to see it. The mask goes over your nose.

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