Why Face Masks Don’t Work: A Revealing Review

oralhealthgroup.com ^ | October 18, 2016 | John Hardie, BDS, MSc, PhD, FRCDC

[Fai Mao]

The opposing viewpoint:
https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/06/21/880832213/yes-wearing-masks-helps-heres-why?utm_source=pocket-newtab

So, I guess, pay your money and take your choice?

[rktman]

The only thing a mask does is keep your exhalations from being dispersed over a wide area. As far as intake...... Yeah, not so much. For intakes with all these masks, it ain’t a HEPA filter. And all the folks wearing the home made masks and bandanas? How often do they get cleaned/sanitized? As far as outside, pretty sure our friend Mr. Sun tosses out some UV rays that will take care of the nasties floating around.

[UNGN]

Face masks only work in the one case of where one person, who HAS THE VIRUS is talking, coughing or sneezing in close proximity to another person.

If people do not have the virus wear a face covering, they are touching there face WAY MORE than they would if they were not wearing a mask.

For somebody who does not have the virus, a face shield or even safety glasses would protect them more than a mouth/nose covering.

[Wonder Warthog]

NO mask (or any other item of PPE) gives perfect protection.
Masks DO decrease the possibility of transmission, but not to zero. But wearing one is certainly much better than not.

[BitWielder1]

If a mask wearer sneezes or coughs, the mask captures some, but not all, of the mucus.

The mask protects the wearer against dirty looks.

That's about it.

[edwinland]

Another case of a headline that doesn't match the article.

The article does not even argue that face masks don't work, just that their adoption was based on a common-sense idea (catching droplets that could contain TB) that has not been proven.

The correct headline would be:

"Medical Officials Assume Face Masks Work But That Has Not Been Proven."

[SunTzuWu]

Your choice of sources to support your view is interesting.

[steve8714]

Certainly? Is that “scientific consensus”? We’ve seen that before.

[NorthstarMom]

It’s going to be about 90 degrees this evening. I will be working, hustling around out there wearing the required mask. It’s not fun. I get headaches from wearing one so every time I go inside away from customers I pull down my mask for a bit. This means I am touching it constantly.

I don’t like it at all and have to work on my attitude to keep from becoming irritated at being forced to wear one.

[Flick Lives]

...just that their adoption was based on a common-sense idea (catching droplets that could contain TB) that has not been proven.

—

Much like several hundred years ago people thought lighter objects fell more slowly than heavier objects of the same shape. Scientific experiment proved that to be false.

[shanover]

It’s about 1000 x smaller than a grain of sand measured in microns. The mask thing is just a “respectful” measure the way I see it. The true way to battle this is for it to run its course and have science work a way to kill it or at least control it. I work in a mask for 10 hours a day and it’s not easy.

[rockrr]

Thanks for the link.

So far what I’ve seen of The Great Mask Debate resolves to:

1. Wear a mask - it’s the responsible thing to do. (because I said so)
2. Wear a mask - even if it doesn’t help it might....maybe
3. Wear a mask - even though it poses several significant risks to wearers.
4. Wear a mask - because science.
5. Wear a mask - because we can’t think of a viable way to manage this virus so we’re just gonna inconvenience everybody.

I’m less than impressed...

[crusty old prospector]

Then, your mask is full of goobers. Who would sneeze into a mask on purpose?

[budj]

The article (from 2016) is accurate in that there are no controlled clinical studies showing the effectiveness of the masks.

Yet Dr Faucci wears his mask and tells us we also should.

There are no controlled clinical studies showing the effectiveness (or lack) by taking HCl+Zinc at the first sign of COVID-19, although there are significant positive results reported by good doctors.

Yet Dr Faucci warns us against HCl.

Hmmmmm ... ... ... I wonder why we don’t trust Dr Faucci.

[metmom]

I hang mine out in the sun for the day after I use it.... a few times.

[Valpal1]

The anti-mask faction makes perfect the enemy of good. It’s like rabid environmentalists for whom 0 is the only acceptable level of what the evil chemical of the day is.

[manc]

I do not wear one due to my asthma. If a business will not let me in because I do not wear a mask would that be based on discrimination under the ADA?

[EEGator]

So you argue a false dichotomy to disprove a false dichotomy?...

[RummyChick]

It boggles my mind why people dont understand the concept of viral load

Some people get Covid but it never reaches the stage of a positive Test because T cells fight it off according to one theory/study. There are T cells tests that can be done but I dont think many are done.

In 4 days your nose can grow 10 million of the virus.

So how about keeping the viral load as low as possible

That said, I do think masks are problematic and could cause issues for people that have to wear them all day

Luckily, I just wear my face shield and mask for a quick in and out at the store

. Underarmour has come out with a new mask to deal with microbe issues...that is getting good reviews but sold out.

meanwhile , checking in with Rebel Chaz who is 28 years old refuses to wear and mask and parties on... and has now lost his sense of taste and smell...still doing okay