3 ms·

Nothing in this is binary, there are few 100% protections, there is only risk reduction. Surgical masks reduce risk. N95 or FFP2 masks reduce risks more. So,

Nothing in this is binary, there are few 100% protections, there is only risk reduction. Surgical masks reduce risk. N95 or FFP2 masks reduce risks more. So, prefer N95 masks. This does not mean that surgical masks or cloth masks are useless, or that N95 masks are perfect.

entropicgravity 5y ago
The empirical results of mandating masks is that virus spread is reduced substantially. But most masks people wear are not N95 type masks and shouldn't be as effective as the empirical results indicate. One article I read suggests that the effectiveness of masks comes not primarily from the filtering out of the virus but from increasing the humidity in the respiratory tract which in turn affects the ability of the virus to transmit disease.
- thehappypm 5y ago
  Do you have any sources for that empirical result? I saw a big study result from Africa that came out last week, and it showed that surgical masks were helpful in reducing spread but the p-values were surprisingly weak except in the over-65 group. And cloth masks were very statistically weak in helping anyone.
- everybodyknows 5y ago
  >increasing the humidity in the respiratory tract which in turn affects the ability of the virus to transmit disease. Consistent with early studies on mask sterilization techniques, which found that adding moisture to heat accelerated decay of virus particles.
nradov 5y ago
A recent study found that in large populations, cloth masks were useless and surgical masks were only marginally effective. https://www.poverty-action.org/publication/impact-community-masking-covid-19-cluster-randomized-trial-bangladesh https://www.poverty-action.org/publication/impact-community-... But even with masks, over a long period the risk that everyone will eventually be exposed is close to 100%. That's why instead of obsessing over masks we should focus on vaccinating as many vulnerable people as possible. https://www.businessinsider.com/delta-variant-made-herd-immunity-not-possible-astrazeneca-developer-2021-8 https://www.businessinsider.com/delta-variant-made-herd-immu...
- LorenPechtel 5y ago
  We need both. Delta is infectious enough that vaccine alone isn't going to stop it. Vaccine + masks can stop it, though, without infecting everyone.
  - nradov 5y ago
    Unfortunately that's simply wrong and there is no scientific basis for your claim. See the article linked I linked above, including the video testimony from Prof. Pollard. Vaccines are effective at preventing most deaths but vaccines and masks will not be sufficient to eradicate the virus. All of us can expect to be exposed multiple times. That is our reality.
    - ncmncm 5y ago
      But we need not expect to all get sick. Many, maybe most, vaccinated will get infected, and over it in a day or three, and likely not notice.
- domdib 5y ago
  I don't understand - according to the paper you cite, cloth masks were less effective than surgical masks, (which would be expected) but not useless.
  - nradov 5y ago
    There was no statistically significant difference between the cloth mask intervention group and the control group.

entropicgravity 5y ago

The empirical results of mandating masks is that virus spread is reduced substantially. But most masks people wear are not N95 type masks and shouldn't be as effective as the empirical results indicate. One article I read suggests that the effectiveness of masks comes not primarily from the filtering out of the virus but from increasing the humidity in the respiratory tract which in turn affects the ability of the virus to transmit disease.

thehappypm 5y ago
Do you have any sources for that empirical result? I saw a big study result from Africa that came out last week, and it showed that surgical masks were helpful in reducing spread but the p-values were surprisingly weak except in the over-65 group. And cloth masks were very statistically weak in helping anyone.
everybodyknows 5y ago
>increasing the humidity in the respiratory tract which in turn affects the ability of the virus to transmit disease. Consistent with early studies on mask sterilization techniques, which found that adding moisture to heat accelerated decay of virus particles.

nradov 5y ago

A recent study found that in large populations, cloth masks were useless and surgical masks were only marginally effective. https://www.poverty-action.org/publication/impact-community-masking-covid-19-cluster-randomized-trial-bangladesh https://www.poverty-action.org/publication/impact-community-... But even with masks, over a long period the risk that everyone will eventually be exposed is close to 100%. That's why instead of obsessing over masks we should focus on vaccinating as many vulnerable people as possible. https://www.businessinsider.com/delta-variant-made-herd-immunity-not-possible-astrazeneca-developer-2021-8 https://www.businessinsider.com/delta-variant-made-herd-immu...

LorenPechtel 5y ago
We need both. Delta is infectious enough that vaccine alone isn't going to stop it. Vaccine + masks can stop it, though, without infecting everyone.
- nradov 5y ago
  Unfortunately that's simply wrong and there is no scientific basis for your claim. See the article linked I linked above, including the video testimony from Prof. Pollard. Vaccines are effective at preventing most deaths but vaccines and masks will not be sufficient to eradicate the virus. All of us can expect to be exposed multiple times. That is our reality.
  - ncmncm 5y ago
    But we need not expect to all get sick. Many, maybe most, vaccinated will get infected, and over it in a day or three, and likely not notice.
domdib 5y ago
I don't understand - according to the paper you cite, cloth masks were less effective than surgical masks, (which would be expected) but not useless.
- nradov 5y ago
  There was no statistically significant difference between the cloth mask intervention group and the control group.