>We detected coronavirus in respiratory droplets and aerosols in 3 of 10 (30%) and 4 of 10 (40%) of the samples collected without face masks, respectively, but

>We detected coronavirus in respiratory droplets and aerosols in 3 of 10 (30%) and 4 of 10 (40%) of the samples collected without face masks, respectively, but did not detect any virus in respiratory droplets or aerosols collected from participants wearing face masks, this difference was significant in aerosols and showed a trend toward reduced detection in respiratory droplets (Table 1b). This study is incredibly small, and operating on the limits of significance. Its hardly conclusive, and was done under fairly extreme conditions (30 mins in close proximity) compared to the scenarios in which masks are mandated today. The authors even mention that, for those who did not cough, no detectable virus was identified regardless of whether a mask was worn. Considering that the point of mandatory masking is to prevent asymptomatic transmission from brief interactions with strangers, I just don't find this study very convincing as a scientific basis for a mask mandate.