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The Mask Mandates Did Nothing. Will Any Lessons Be Learned? [opinion column]
New York Times via Internet Archive ^ | Ferbruary 21, 2023 | Bret Stephens

Posted on 02/22/2023 5:40:00 AM PST by grundle

The most rigorous and comprehensive analysis of scientific studies conducted on the efficacy of masks for reducing the spread of respiratory illnesses — including Covid-19 — was published late last month. Its conclusions, said Tom Jefferson, the Oxford epidemiologist who is its lead author, were unambiguous.

“There is just no evidence that they” — masks — “make any difference,” he told the journalist Maryanne Demasi. “Full stop.”

But, wait, hold on. What about N-95 masks, as opposed to lower-quality surgical or cloth masks?

“Makes no difference — none of it,” said Jefferson.

What about the studies that initially persuaded policymakers to impose mask mandates?

“They were convinced by non-randomized studies, flawed observational studies.”

What about the utility of masks in conjunction with other preventive measures, such as hand hygiene, physical distancing or air filtration?

“There’s no evidence that many of these things make any difference.”

These observations don’t come from just anywhere. Jefferson and 11 colleagues conducted the study for Cochrane, a British nonprofit that is widely considered the gold standard for its reviews of health care data. The conclusions were based on 78 randomized controlled trials, six of them during the Covid pandemic, with a total of 610,872 participants in multiple countries. And they track what has been widely observed in the United States: States with mask mandates fared no better against Covid than those without.

(Excerpt) Read more at web.archive.org ...


TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: covid; covidmasks; facediapers; fear; fearmasking; mandates; mask; maskevidence; masking; maskmandates; masks; maskstudy
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This is an opinion column, not a news article.
1 posted on 02/22/2023 5:40:00 AM PST by grundle
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To: grundle

No, Nazis never learn lessons! They just keep being Nazis when an opportunity presents itself........


2 posted on 02/22/2023 5:43:23 AM PST by Lockbox (politicians, they all seemed like game show hosts to me.... Sting)
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To: grundle

Oh I beg to differ. The mask mandates accomplished quite a bit. Destruction is progress among today’s democrats.


3 posted on 02/22/2023 5:45:22 AM PST by blackdog ((Z28.310) Forget "Global Warming", new grants are for "Galaxy Dimming")
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To: Lockbox

If you are planning riots and crime nationwide, masks are helpful.


4 posted on 02/22/2023 5:45:59 AM PST by cnsmom
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To: grundle

Old, old news. WHO/CDC helped fund definitive studies in SEast Asia back in 2015. Hundreds of med folks (docs, nurses — they know how to wear masks) in dozens of med facilities (where use can be watched). Cloth masks block <5%of infected aerosols while N-95 <half.

This was openly published on the WWW late in 2019 — but pooh-pooed. It was even ridiculed on this site ‘cause the guy who pointed it out was a Canadian.

The CCP made the masks and profited by their use. All who mandated them got paid off.


5 posted on 02/22/2023 5:55:23 AM PST by bobbo666 (Baizuo)
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To: blackdog

Masks are useful in spotting idiots and Democrats.

I automatically shun,blow off, and ignore anyone wearing one.


6 posted on 02/22/2023 5:59:17 AM PST by Jewbacca (The residents of Iroquois territory may not determine whether Jews may live in Jerusalem.)
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To: grundle

https://www.thedesertreview.com/white-house-covid-czar-admits-masks-dont-work/article_8ffc2d7e-82ec-11ed-b3fe-379aa32369df.html


7 posted on 02/22/2023 6:02:56 AM PST by Sacajaweau ( )
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To: grundle

“The conclusions were based on 78 randomized controlled trials, six of them during the Covid pandemic...”

And 70 of those studies had already been conducted before COVID. That’s a huge amount of research on a topic, when you consider that we are approving most drugs with just two or three trials. So we already knew without any doubt that masks did not work, before they imposed the mandates.


8 posted on 02/22/2023 6:03:17 AM PST by Boogieman
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To: Sacajaweau

The above link is the Doctor who replaced Fauci at the Whitehouse and the speaker for the Administration.


9 posted on 02/22/2023 6:04:15 AM PST by Sacajaweau ( )
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To: Jewbacca

Good for spotting crazy women too so you know to avoid them when you’re looking for a date.


10 posted on 02/22/2023 6:04:37 AM PST by Boogieman
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To: Jewbacca

Yep. I just spent the last week “moving about the country” and they signal themselves like its WWII and they are signaling from ship to ship with face flags.


11 posted on 02/22/2023 6:05:49 AM PST by blackdog ((Z28.310) Forget "Global Warming", new grants are for "Galaxy Dimming")
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To: grundle
The mainstream experts and pundits who supported mandates were wrong.

Yeah, well as soon as someone says "expert", you can be absolutely certain that what follows is wrong, or an outright lie.

12 posted on 02/22/2023 6:24:20 AM PST by Sicon ("All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others." - G. Orwell)
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To: grundle
the people who had the courage to say as much deserved to be listened to, not treated with contempt. They may not ever get the apology they deserve, but vindication ought to be enough.

Vindication ought to be enough?! Really?! For people who lost their jobs, livelihoods, and/or businesses as a result of all of the "COVID" policies and mandates? I don't think so. A lot of people - "experts", bureaucrats, politicians, etc., need to lose their jobs and in many cases, go to prison, for their parts in this entire nightmare fraud called "COVID".

Vindication they already have, retribution is what is still owed.

13 posted on 02/22/2023 6:30:30 AM PST by Sicon ("All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others." - G. Orwell)
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To: grundle
Yes, it is an opinion piece but the fact that the NY Slimes ALLOWED this dangerous “misinformation” to be displayed in their propaganda pages is quite stunning.
14 posted on 02/22/2023 6:40:10 AM PST by GrannyAnn ( )
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To: Jewbacca

Maybe its just me, but it sure seems like 99% of the people I see wearing masks today are middle aged suburban women.


15 posted on 02/22/2023 7:03:39 AM PST by FLT-bird
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To: grundle
If masks don't work for anything, why is it SOP for hospital surgeries? I think they have some usefulness, but not for tiny covid particles.
16 posted on 02/22/2023 7:07:13 AM PST by 1Old Pro
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To: FLT-bird

I work on USA bases.

It’s 100% of the time affirmative action/promotion hires.

Since I’m mainly a trainer, I guess I am now officially a REMF, but we also use it to spot career REMFs.


17 posted on 02/22/2023 7:07:53 AM PST by Jewbacca (The residents of Iroquois territory may not determine whether Jews may live in Jerusalem.)
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To: grundle

They did something. The accomplished a lot. For example, a huge increase in speech impediments among young children. Also mental health problems in children. Not to mention increased upper respiratory infections across the board from breathing through filthy masks. This is what the Deep State wanted. Mission accomplished.


18 posted on 02/22/2023 7:37:36 AM PST by Thilly Thailor
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To: grundle

The masks absolutely did something. They helped keep everyone in a state of fear and submission.

We have criminal government voted in by stupid people.


19 posted on 02/22/2023 8:02:01 AM PST by joma89 (Buy weapons and ammo, folks, and have the will to use them.)
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To: grundle

Masks matter a lot less than whether one is obese, diabetic, old and in poor health — against any virus, disease, pollution, injury, and calamity.

That is what the bureaucratic/autocratic minds missed entirely — as is their wont.

But the simple minded people working in the media and education can’t discriminate anything of significance anymore — and that is why they rightly need to be ignored.


20 posted on 02/22/2023 8:29:35 AM PST by MikeHu
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