For all the pro-mask trolls: If you want to make a case, you can start by looking at the only analysis I’ve seen about masks being effective. It’s a statistical analysis about why lockdowns don’t work.
However, the only “peer-reviewed” literature you’ll find shows that masks either do nothing or do harm.
It’s going to cause you quite a dilemma. If you agree that masks reduce the death rate, then you’ll have to side with a non-peer-reviewed independent analysis. If you only accept peer-reviewed studies then you’ll have to acknowledge that masks don’t work.
Also, I wouldn't need to revert to a default belief that they aren't effective until conclusive results were in. The virus is carried by an aerosol, the size of which is filterable by the mask. So the likely answer would be yes, even without data.
Of course, making mandatory rules on that basis is another thing entirely. But as long as we're talking about voluntary protections, I'll believe in them until you have peer-reviewed studies that outright disprove them.
Ok great! Just reading the summary I noticed this:
Face mask use could result in a large reduction in risk of infection (n=2647; aOR 0·15, 95% CI 0·07 to 0·34, RD −14·3%, −15·9 to −10·7; low certainty), with stronger associations with N95 or similar respirators compared with disposable surgical masks or similar (eg, reusable 12–16-layer cotton masks; pinteraction=0·090; posterior probability >95%, low certainty).
A few points: 1) Virtually no one is wearing N95 masks; 2) Are there other health risks to re-using the same mask for days or weeks at a time?
Lastly, “flattening the curve” was likely a huge mistake now that we know that 95%+ of people show no symptoms. We should have instead isolated the old and sick but let everyone else get it. We’d be done now if we had. This is yet another argument against masks whether they “work” or not.
This isn't saying masks work either, note the lawyerly language, "could", "low certainty". They couldn't make a strong enough association to say it lowered transmission. In contrast that were able to say distancing and washing hands had an impact with "moderate certainty"
Been in the trades over 15 years, and those masks aren't good enough for anything in a shop. You couldn't cut wood, fiberglass, grind steel, (spray)paint.. you couldn't even sweep the floor.
Masks do nothing for prevention purposes because flus are spread through hard surface transmission, not airborne transmission. The infected in public are spreading it through their hands, not their mouths. Just like ALL flus, people in public touch shared surfaces and infect each other. No one in public is coughing/sneezing into anyone's mouth.
For all the pro-mask trolls: If you want to make a case, you can start by looking at the only analysis I’ve seen about masks being effective. It’s a statistical analysis about why lockdowns don’t work.
https://www.thepublicdiscourse.com/2020/04/62572/
However, the only “peer-reviewed” literature you’ll find shows that masks either do nothing or do harm.
It’s going to cause you quite a dilemma. If you agree that masks reduce the death rate, then you’ll have to side with a non-peer-reviewed independent analysis. If you only accept peer-reviewed studies then you’ll have to acknowledge that masks don’t work.
Good luck and happy cognitive dissonance!
That's a brilliant point. I've found over 20 studies showing the ineffectiveness of masks in helping the wearer or others.
The masks are only useful if used correctly. 1 room, 1 mask. You leave the room, the mask is garbage. Can't touch it, must be resting correctly.
Extensive proper medical handwashing between each item of PPE removal as well.
I actually found a peer-reviewed study which showed no difference in post-surgical infections between surgeons wearing masks vs. not wearing masks!
Here's one
Also, I wouldn't need to revert to a default belief that they aren't effective until conclusive results were in. The virus is carried by an aerosol, the size of which is filterable by the mask. So the likely answer would be yes, even without data.
Of course, making mandatory rules on that basis is another thing entirely. But as long as we're talking about voluntary protections, I'll believe in them until you have peer-reviewed studies that outright disprove them.
Ok great! Just reading the summary I noticed this:
A few points: 1) Virtually no one is wearing N95 masks; 2) Are there other health risks to re-using the same mask for days or weeks at a time?
Lastly, “flattening the curve” was likely a huge mistake now that we know that 95%+ of people show no symptoms. We should have instead isolated the old and sick but let everyone else get it. We’d be done now if we had. This is yet another argument against masks whether they “work” or not.
This isn't saying masks work either, note the lawyerly language, "could", "low certainty". They couldn't make a strong enough association to say it lowered transmission. In contrast that were able to say distancing and washing hands had an impact with "moderate certainty"
How do we know it is carried by an aerosol? Where is that study?
Here, in conjuction with the knowledge that that's how SARS worked, see the references in this one.
I tell people this all the time.
Been in the trades over 15 years, and those masks aren't good enough for anything in a shop. You couldn't cut wood, fiberglass, grind steel, (spray)paint.. you couldn't even sweep the floor.
The pro mask people will say "It's not to prevent you from getting the virus--it's to prevent you from spreading it to others!" :/
Masks do nothing for prevention purposes because flus are spread through hard surface transmission, not airborne transmission. The infected in public are spreading it through their hands, not their mouths. Just like ALL flus, people in public touch shared surfaces and infect each other. No one in public is coughing/sneezing into anyone's mouth.
This perfectly matches the known data we have that frequent handwashing seems to reduce transmission by around 50%.
Not touching your face in public most likely reduces it the other 50%.
"But but--- the droplets!!"
The face diaper is more to keep you from coughing and sneezing on people. It has nothing to do with keeping the virus out.