Thread by @jburnmurdoch

NEW with @jemimajoanna: why are so few people in the UK wearing masks?

We dug into the numbers, the science and the nuance to see what’s going on

Story here: ftalphaville.ft.com/2020/07/09/159…

Thread follows:

1) Months into an airborne disease epidemic that has already killed tens of thousands, only 36% of Brits are wearing masks in public spaces.

Far lower than vast majority of peer countries, including all of Asia, most of Europe, & US.

Only Nordics & Aus are even more mask-averse

2) Why?

A big factor is masks are still not mandatory in UK public spaces.

This despite dozens of studies showing that masks — including homemade ones — reduce transmission risk
medrxiv.org/content/10.110…
medrxiv.org/content/10.110…
medrxiv.org/content/10.110…
medrxiv.org/content/10.110…

3) But messaging around masks is also key.

Studies show when people are told masking up is altruistic — helps others — they’re more keen to wear them. Research also shows masks’ main utility *is* protecting others.

But this understanding is less common in UK than most countries

4) However we also shouldn’t tar all Brits with the same brush.

YouGov data shows mask-wearing is:
• More common in London (by a long way) and among the elderly, Lab/Remain voters, Scots and women
• Less common in Northern England, Con/Leave voters and men

5) @jemimajoanna also spoke to Prof @melindacmills, who’s been digging into the clinical, social & behavioural evidence on masks and feels British government has a lot to answer for in its mixed and at times anti-scientific-consensus messaging

Full story: ftalphaville.ft.com/2020/07/09/159…