Exactly.
Every mechanistic study shows that masks do indeed substantially reduce the transmission of particles that are much smaller than the pores in the mask (including actual viruses).
The problem is, every single clinical trial shows that masks do exactly diddly squat in terms of actual reduction of viral transmission.
My hypothesis is that because the minimal infection volume is so tiny (1-5 microns), even if a mask is 99% efficient mechanistically (and none of them are), the person is still going to be infected if they are in the proximity.
People touch their eyes and noses when putting their masks on and don't wash their hands enough. Simple as that. They might as well scratch a plague victim's ass and then sniff and lock their fingers.
Exactly.
Every mechanistic study shows that masks do indeed substantially reduce the transmission of particles that are much smaller than the pores in the mask (including actual viruses).
The problem is, every single clinical trial shows that masks do exactly diddly squat in terms of actual reduction of viral transmission.
My hypothesis is that because the minimal infection volume is so tiny (1-5 microns), even if a mask is 99% efficient mechanistically (and none of them are), the person is still going to be infected if they are in the proximity.
People touch their eyes and noses when putting their masks on and don't wash their hands enough. Simple as that. They might as well scratch a plague victim's ass and then sniff and lock their fingers.
And/or that, indeed.