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Agree, but it's not so cut and dry. https://slatestarcodex.com/2020/03/23/face-masks-much-more-than-you-wanted-to-know/ https://slatestarcodex.com/2020/03/23/fa

Agree, but it's not so cut and dry. https://slatestarcodex.com/2020/03/23/face-masks-much-more-than-you-wanted-to-know/ https://slatestarcodex.com/2020/03/23/face-masks-much-more-t... edit: speaking of cut and dry..men should be clean-shaven to ensure snug fit.

pbhjpbhj 7y ago
Interesting preface. In the UK we were told that masks were simply not effective, there was no need for them, they would not hinder the spread of infection. Similarly with closing schools: "the gov has this special plan that uses herd immunity, you idiot, so we don't need to close schools" [actually it's always "Boris has a plan", I can't understand why -- if it's the PM's plan then it's probably entirely ignorant of all the facts ...]. Anyway, yeah, the argument wasn't that >"[we] disagree on whether surgical masks alone help prevent the wearer from becoming infected" [from your link] it was "masks of any kind are ineffective". And we bloody well know that just the effectiveness of masks in preventing spread from infected patients makes them worthwhile. It's simply maths that 1 infected who spreads to 1 more is more than 1 infected spreading to zero more.
- daveslash 7y ago
  I wonder if there was a lie of omission by the health professionals: "N95 Masks won't help the spread [because the general public will touch their face without washing their hands after removing the mask, thus masking the mask a moot point]" ~ the brackets representing the "lie of omission" part. I honestly don't know, just wondering out loud...
  - wideasleep1 7y ago
    That, and I think disposable nitrile type gloves are way underplayed as well. They're easy to remove inside-out, limiting exposure when disposing. I remove one to get into the car (clean hand on handle), get inside, hold empty glove in other gloved hand, and pull second glove over first glove to contain it. Probably saw this on ER or some show years ago.
  - ironmagma 7y ago
    If you're going to be that fatalist, you may as well say "there is no preventing COVID-19" because everyone will touch their face without washing their hands. No, assume people can follow instructions and disseminate the truth, not a revised version of the truth, or you risk credibility as clearly has been damaged on the CDC's part. There are dire consequences when a public health authority has no authority anymore due to lying.

pbhjpbhj 7y ago

Interesting preface. In the UK we were told that masks were simply not effective, there was no need for them, they would not hinder the spread of infection. Similarly with closing schools: "the gov has this special plan that uses herd immunity, you idiot, so we don't need to close schools" [actually it's always "Boris has a plan", I can't understand why -- if it's the PM's plan then it's probably entirely ignorant of all the facts ...]. Anyway, yeah, the argument wasn't that >"[we] disagree on whether surgical masks alone help prevent the wearer from becoming infected" [from your link] it was "masks of any kind are ineffective". And we bloody well know that just the effectiveness of masks in preventing spread from infected patients makes them worthwhile. It's simply maths that 1 infected who spreads to 1 more is more than 1 infected spreading to zero more.

daveslash 7y ago
I wonder if there was a lie of omission by the health professionals: "N95 Masks won't help the spread [because the general public will touch their face without washing their hands after removing the mask, thus masking the mask a moot point]" ~ the brackets representing the "lie of omission" part. I honestly don't know, just wondering out loud...
- wideasleep1 7y ago
  That, and I think disposable nitrile type gloves are way underplayed as well. They're easy to remove inside-out, limiting exposure when disposing. I remove one to get into the car (clean hand on handle), get inside, hold empty glove in other gloved hand, and pull second glove over first glove to contain it. Probably saw this on ER or some show years ago.
- ironmagma 7y ago
  If you're going to be that fatalist, you may as well say "there is no preventing COVID-19" because everyone will touch their face without washing their hands. No, assume people can follow instructions and disseminate the truth, not a revised version of the truth, or you risk credibility as clearly has been damaged on the CDC's part. There are dire consequences when a public health authority has no authority anymore due to lying.