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> Widespread mask use came as close to wiping out last year's Flu season as we've ever seen. This is an assertion. It could have been the fact that nobody was

by timr 5y ago

> Widespread mask use came as close to wiping out last year's Flu season as we've ever seen. This is an assertion. It could have been the fact that nobody was traveling last year. It could have been the fact that most kids were out of school. It could have been distancing. It could have been any number of other things. Any conclusion here is premature.

GeekyBear 5y ago
The conclusion that cloth masks are ineffective against viruses with an airborne spread, while a properly worn n95 mask does provide real protection is hardly premature. Here's the quote above from one of the scientists on President Biden's Covid advisory board in context: >Needless to say, masking is political hot button beyond anything I've ever seen in public health. At the same time i think we've all done a disservice to the public. When you actually look at face cloth coverings, they actually only have very limited impact in reducing the amount of virus that you inhale in or exhale out. Studies that have been done show that if an individual might get infected within 15 minutes in a room, by time and concentration of the virus in the room, add a face cloth covering you only get about five more minutes of protection. I've been really disappointed with my colleagues in public health for not being more clear about what can masking can do or not do. On the other hand if you use the n95 respirators and fit them tight to your face, you can actually spend 25 hours in that same room and still be protected. The bottom line though is by telling people that in fact just putting a face cloth covering on is going to protect you is simply not true. https://www.pbs.org/wnet/amanpour-and-company/video/do-masks-provide-much-protection-we-think-bglhwy/ https://www.pbs.org/wnet/amanpour-and-company/video/do-masks... People are flailing away to claim that cloth masks "do so do something" in a very counterproductive way. I'm reminded of Ivermectin proponents.
- timr 5y ago
  > The conclusion that cloth masks are ineffective against viruses with an airborne spread, while a properly worn n95 mask does provide real protection is hardly premature. You're just asserting it to be true, so yes, it is. > I've been really disappointed with my colleagues in public health for not being more clear about what can masking can do or not do. I agree with this, but probably not for the reason you're saying it. It's hard to "be clear about what masking can do", when you haven't actually bothered to gather any evidence for it, one way or the other.
  - GeekyBear 5y ago
    > You're just asserting it to be true, so yes, it is. I'm not the one who asserted it. One of the scientists on President Biden's Covid advisory board did. Unfortunately, many of us on the left are no more willing to accept this truth than those on the right are willing to listen when President Trump tells them they should get vaccinated.

by timr 5y ago

GeekyBear 5y ago

The conclusion that cloth masks are ineffective against viruses with an airborne spread, while a properly worn n95 mask does provide real protection is hardly premature. Here's the quote above from one of the scientists on President Biden's Covid advisory board in context: >Needless to say, masking is political hot button beyond anything I've ever seen in public health. At the same time i think we've all done a disservice to the public. When you actually look at face cloth coverings, they actually only have very limited impact in reducing the amount of virus that you inhale in or exhale out. Studies that have been done show that if an individual might get infected within 15 minutes in a room, by time and concentration of the virus in the room, add a face cloth covering you only get about five more minutes of protection. I've been really disappointed with my colleagues in public health for not being more clear about what can masking can do or not do. On the other hand if you use the n95 respirators and fit them tight to your face, you can actually spend 25 hours in that same room and still be protected. The bottom line though is by telling people that in fact just putting a face cloth covering on is going to protect you is simply not true. https://www.pbs.org/wnet/amanpour-and-company/video/do-masks-provide-much-protection-we-think-bglhwy/ https://www.pbs.org/wnet/amanpour-and-company/video/do-masks... People are flailing away to claim that cloth masks "do so do something" in a very counterproductive way. I'm reminded of Ivermectin proponents.

timr 5y ago
> The conclusion that cloth masks are ineffective against viruses with an airborne spread, while a properly worn n95 mask does provide real protection is hardly premature. You're just asserting it to be true, so yes, it is. > I've been really disappointed with my colleagues in public health for not being more clear about what can masking can do or not do. I agree with this, but probably not for the reason you're saying it. It's hard to "be clear about what masking can do", when you haven't actually bothered to gather any evidence for it, one way or the other.
- GeekyBear 5y ago
  > You're just asserting it to be true, so yes, it is. I'm not the one who asserted it. One of the scientists on President Biden's Covid advisory board did. Unfortunately, many of us on the left are no more willing to accept this truth than those on the right are willing to listen when President Trump tells them they should get vaccinated.