So why do they want us to wear them? Is it really just control/dehumanising?

I've sent in an FOI request to the Welsh govt, asking what scientific advice they were following, bearing in mind the Welsh CMO said in July the evidence for masks was "quite weak" - and also what risk assessments they did to satisfy themselves it was safe for the general public to wear face coverings.

I suspect that when they announced it in July - when they were trying to encourage opening up after the first lockdown, just around to the time Eat Out To Help Out was announced- it was mostly a psychological measure to make people feel better and feel safer about going out to eat and going to work etc. The government knew masks don't work of course (and even if they did work, virtually no one follows all the guidelines for using them properly so it's still pointless) but they thought people would be more confident about going out etc. On top of that, politicians like to indulge in things that make them look like they are decisive and Taking Action, even if the action is pointless, plus the masks thing gave a sop to the bedwetters who were objecting to the opening up of the country after lockdown.

Unfortunately it didn't work and in fact backfired because of the dehumanizing effect, and now it will be really difficult to lift the mandate because the precedent has been set and the bedwetters will go nuts if it is lifted - unlike other parts of the economy (pubs etc), this is is seen as a "no cost" measure by government because there isn't an organized lobby pushing to lift it.

I am getting an attack of the (spread)sheets, so here is a chart for you:

So before masks 138 deaths per day. After masks 136 deaths per day.

If they save TWO lives ...! 😀