3 ms·
Studies are not really the right way to test mask effectiveness end-to-end. The physics of filters is well known. What you'd want to do is study humans to see h
by kadoban 2y ago
Studies are not really the right way to test mask effectiveness end-to-end. The physics of filters is well known. What you'd want to do is study humans to see how they're actually wearing the masks and what kind, and then use physics and infection modelling to see what that means for spread and health.
Trying to do a study that measures mask effectiveness in humans is just too noisy/messy or immoral, or both.
- wakawaka28 2y agoThe physics of filters is well-known, but how many virus particles does it take to infect a person? Can you smell anything through your mask? If you can, you'll probably be infected if you're anywhere near an infected person. By the way, you also absorb virus particles through your eyes. So trying to rely on the primitive filters you'd actually wear is silly. The effect of masks is so minimal, in my estimation, it's worse than nothing. Then we have to address the stupidity of people thinking that it's mandatory to wear a mask in a restaurant but only until you sit. Then the virus stops completely as you eat. The truth is, by the time we got to that stage, the virus was not a significant threat. The mask mandates were purely performative at that point, and we were seriously at risk of being in that stage forever because of power-tripping politicians.