Oh come on. A) nobody is making that claim - you are. So don't turn this into some weird non-fact-based appeal to emotions. The claim that they are useless is

Oh come on. A) nobody is making that claim - you are. So don't turn this into some weird non-fact-based appeal to emotions. The claim that they are useless is because the evidence does not support them. They ARE useful in clinical settings, and heavily required there. B) there is no evidence for their success: 1) https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-51205344 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-51205344 "implementing simple hygiene measures" was vastly more effective." "Although there is a perception that the wearing of facemasks may be beneficial, there is in fact very little evidence of widespread benefit from their use outside of these clinical setting." "routine surgical masks for the public are not an effective protection against viruses or bacteria carried in the air" 2)research study, particularly on leakage: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3306645/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3306645/ 3) efficiacy in Beijin: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5969371/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5969371/ (again largely leakage) 4) efficacy in 22micron particulate: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3470452 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3470452 (again leakage. but depends on particulate size)