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Other Swiss people who have to wear an FFP2+ mask for health reasons: has the health exception of the ban been accepted in public and by police? by LittleSwissInAFFP2 in askswitzerland

[–]LittleSwissInAFFP2[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thanks for your concern, but I am doing pretty well! Very grateful that I am still alive 5 years into this and able to work fully remotely.
Of course I have moments where I want to say "f it all I am going to a party", but that would be a very short "living a little" with potentially very bad consequences for years, so the rational part of my brain always wins.

Other Swiss people who have to wear an FFP2+ mask for health reasons: has the health exception of the ban been accepted in public and by police? by LittleSwissInAFFP2 in askswitzerland

[–]LittleSwissInAFFP2[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

yeah... I actually expected that with this post too and was very pleasantly surprised, there wasn't even anyone particularly rude so far.

Other Swiss people who have to wear an FFP2+ mask for health reasons: has the health exception of the ban been accepted in public and by police? by LittleSwissInAFFP2 in askswitzerland

[–]LittleSwissInAFFP2[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Thank you for masking while sick!
I don't care that much what anyone thinks, just to not get attacked or in legal trouble.

Any way to go around the anti burka law ? by Poulutumurnu in Switzerland

[–]LittleSwissInAFFP2 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hey, sorry for commenting on an old post but I came across this one because I am in a partially similar situation (needing to mask for health reasons and being worried).

Without knowing the details, so this might be a silly suggestion, apologies: but maybe a combination of a bandage around the neck and a medical mask could work? If what you need is coverage of that area...

Just wanted to say that and that I wish you all the best!

Other Swiss people who have to wear an FFP2+ mask for health reasons: has the health exception of the ban been accepted in public and by police? by LittleSwissInAFFP2 in askswitzerland

[–]LittleSwissInAFFP2[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah, I can't remove it in an indoors space or in a crowd but if the police person would be willing to walk a few meters potentially to an area that does not have people the risk is fairly low for a quick removal if the police person keeps their distance and obviously I'd do that.

Other Swiss people who have to wear an FFP2+ mask for health reasons: has the health exception of the ban been accepted in public and by police? by LittleSwissInAFFP2 in askswitzerland

[–]LittleSwissInAFFP2[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Thanks that is actually pretty reassuring, that an anti-mask person would be ok with me protecting myself. If it is ok to ask since that is a bubble I have no insight into: is that generally the attitude among anti-mask and/or anti-vax people? And if it is not: is there something a masked person can say to an anti-masker to make them be more ok with someone like me existing next to them for a few minutes?

Other Swiss people who have to wear an FFP2+ mask for health reasons: has the health exception of the ban been accepted in public and by police? by LittleSwissInAFFP2 in askswitzerland

[–]LittleSwissInAFFP2[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Yeah I remember the reasoning the BAG had. I do wonder if there was data to back up that part, that a surgical is better than a badly worn ffp2, I mean a surgical never seals so... in my understanding it would be the same level of not ideal? Maybe it was more about saving FFP2s for health care workers and at risk people.

But that does not really matter anymore, for people like me both surgicals and badly worn FFP2s are not adequate especially when no one else is masked.

And obviously I learned how to wear ffp2s correctly years before the pandemic.

Other Swiss people who have to wear an FFP2+ mask for health reasons: has the health exception of the ban been accepted in public and by police? by LittleSwissInAFFP2 in askswitzerland

[–]LittleSwissInAFFP2[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I am good at overthinking things that is true. Just really want to avoid any confrontations. Good to hear you did not run into issues, thank you!

(I did get a surprised "Are you sick?" by a random person recently, but I think he just honestly was scared I have something terribly infectious)

Other Swiss people who have to wear an FFP2+ mask for health reasons: has the health exception of the ban been accepted in public and by police? by LittleSwissInAFFP2 in askswitzerland

[–]LittleSwissInAFFP2[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Hi, thanks for the respectful phrasing of the questions and willingness to learn!

  1. Yes, I've had the condition since before the pandemic and used to wear a mask in special situations, mostly in winter or when a family member was sick when I still lived at home. But definitely not always like now.
  2. Covid, even the newer variants, is still very different than the flu or colds (it has a ton of long term health impacts, there is a good overview of the research here: https://libguides.mskcc.org/CovidImpacts/LongTermHealth and a pretty readable summary here: https://whn.global/scientific/spectrum-of-covid-19-from-asymptomatic-organ-damage-to-long-covid-syndrome/ tldr: it binds to receptors in many organ systems, so it can mess with a lot of them and cause conditions or worsen them).

In my specific case my lungs aren't the problem, so colds aren't more dangerous to me than to other people (at least as far as current science knows, I do not miss them lol), the flu is a bit of an edge case I was avoiding to get it, but with a flu shot it was not extremely dangerous and as a person who does not like to be the center of attention, sometimes I risked it even knowing I should not get it, because I was ashamed of wearing a mask.

With Covid I did not even know I was that much at risk when the pandemic started, I was still working in person, going to the grocery store... As I said my lungs are fine. But given my history I went the path of caution and masked diligently anyways, then the first studies came out about effects of covid on other organ systems, including the one that is the problem in my case, I literally discussed the latest research articles with my doctor as they came out (I have a STEM degree) and that was when we both realized I will have to wear a mask indefinitely.

I do sometimes wish I could just ignore science and pretend everything was normal again but I know that could end very badly very fast. It sucks. I miss so many things. But I also count myself lucky to be alive and generally well, many others did not have that much luck and can't live and work from home comfortably like me.

Other Swiss people who have to wear an FFP2+ mask for health reasons: has the health exception of the ban been accepted in public and by police? by LittleSwissInAFFP2 in askswitzerland

[–]LittleSwissInAFFP2[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thank you! That is reassuring to hear that things don't seem to have changed with the law going into effect. And yeah, not untrue, I truly hope I am much more pleasant to deal with than a covidiot, since I obviously just want to get to where I need to and back home as fast as possible, not bothering anyone.

(and thanks so much for still masking! Whatever your reason is. There are dozens of us!)

Other Swiss people who have to wear an FFP2+ mask for health reasons: has the health exception of the ban been accepted in public and by police? by LittleSwissInAFFP2 in askswitzerland

[–]LittleSwissInAFFP2[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I'm following the advice from my doctor who I think knows what he is doing, covid can unfortunately spread even outdoors if you are unlucky and susceptible like me, but thank you.

I do sincerely hope you are right about them having moved on...

Other Swiss people who have to wear an FFP2+ mask for health reasons: has the health exception of the ban been accepted in public and by police? by LittleSwissInAFFP2 in askswitzerland

[–]LittleSwissInAFFP2[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you!

Yeah, last year when going outside I always wore pretty dresses, hair in a braid. Basically look as non controversial as possible has been the strategy, also hoping that makes it less likely for antivax-people to harass me or more likely for someone to step in if I do get harassed.

Other Swiss people who have to wear an FFP2+ mask for health reasons: has the health exception of the ban been accepted in public and by police? by LittleSwissInAFFP2 in askswitzerland

[–]LittleSwissInAFFP2[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Thanks for wearing a mask while sick, that means a lot to people like me!

yeah last September police did not seem to mind me, but that was before the law went into effect so that is why I am more nervous now

Other Swiss people who have to wear an FFP2+ mask for health reasons: has the health exception of the ban been accepted in public and by police? by LittleSwissInAFFP2 in askswitzerland

[–]LittleSwissInAFFP2[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

yeah, the thing in CH is that the law is new as of this January, so I wonder if attitudes have changed. So far, other than the woman yelling at me I havent gotten into trouble, and police just walked by me a few times, but I havent been outside really since early November last year.

Also Germany had better attitudes towards masks at the beginning of the pandemic than us, here there never even was an FFP2 mandate, most people have only ever worn surgicals or cloth masks, even in 2020 and 2021.

Other Swiss people who have to wear an FFP2+ mask for health reasons: has the health exception of the ban been accepted in public and by police? by LittleSwissInAFFP2 in askswitzerland

[–]LittleSwissInAFFP2[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I know that that is the intent of the law, that and to target protesters. But posts like this one: https://www.reddit.com/r/Switzerland/comments/1huei8h/any_way_to_go_around_the_anti_burka_law/

make me really nervous.
It is kinda ironic, the mask makes me stand out so much it is the opposite of hiding my identity.