> All epidemics follow a natural curve where the pathogen initially spreads exponentially, but slows down over time as R(t) decreases due to the increased prese

> All epidemics follow a natural curve where the pathogen initially spreads exponentially, but slows down over time as R(t) decreases due to the increased presence of population immunity. We were absolutely no where near this point, we have one of the lowest infection rates in the world and other interventions (lockdowns) had happened weeks earlier. > If we want to talk masks specifically, given the evidence that outdoors transmission of COVID-19 is rare anyway Outdoor transmission may be rare, but this was a political decision so we could get to near 100% conformity > and (b) people follow rigorous protocols to avoid contamination of the mask or from the mask. (b) is certainly not true On the contrary, I just posted real world data that clearly demonstrates that mask discipline isn't very important. Maybe it's important under lab conditions but in the real world it's not. > Indeed, if the primary transmission mechanism is aerosol, masking could and likely would worsen transmission. So why did the reproduction rate fall and not rise after masks were introduced?