Face Masks Really Do Matter. The Scientific Evidence Is Growing. New research suggests that face coverings help reduce the transmission of droplets, though some masks are more protective than others

Wall Street Journal ^ | July 18, 2020 | Caitlin McCabe

[karpov]

Face masks are emerging as one of the most powerful weapons to fight the novel coronavirus, with growing evidence that facial coverings help prevent transmission—even if an infected wearer is in close contact with others.

Robert Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said he believes the pandemic could be brought under control over the next four to eight weeks if “we could get everybody to wear a mask right now.” His comments, made Tuesday with the Journal of the American Medical Association, followed an editorial he and others wrote there emphasizing “ample evidence” of asymptomatic spread and highlighting new studies showing how masks help reduce transmission.

The research Dr. Redfield cited included a newly published study suggesting that universal use of surgical masks helped reduce rates of confirmed Covid-19 infections among health-care workers at the Mass General Brigham health-care system in Massachusetts.

His comments are the clearest message yet from the CDC, amid fierce debate over facial coverings, fueled initially by shifting messages from federal and global officials about their necessity and then by those espousing individual liberties.

Researchers from around the world have found wearing even a basic cloth face covering is more effective in reducing the spread of Covid-19 than wearing nothing at all. And many are now examining the possibility that masks might offer some personal protection from the virus, despite initial thinking that they mostly protect others.

[HIDEK6]

If he had integrity, he would have said in March, “I do think masks can be effective stopping the spread of the virus. But there are a lot of important people who need the masks more than you do. When the President overcomes obama’s mismanagement of critical supplies, we will suggest all wear masks. “

Wha was so hard about doing that?

[NorthWoody]

We don’t have a pandemic, or even an epidemic, happening according to the CDC, the fearper high priests.

It’s shown in their charts, but they don’t talk about it.

And besides, there is no “surge in cases”. It’s all being faked and falsified, but you know that already.

[JoSixChip]

You may be a Karen if:
I found myself driving down the street. A moment later I realized I still had the mask on.

[absalom01]

So, I’m kind of in the middle on the whole mask thing.

There’s reason to believe that they should work as “source control”, which is basically the point you raise. There’s very little evidence for this, but it seems logical that stopping non-aerosolized virus particles could have only a positive effect, and at a modest cost. So, I figure, why not give it a try?

On the other hand, lots of people here in Cali have adopted some strong magical thinking about masks. They wear them while driving alone in their own cars. They wear them outside in the sun while running or walking. They become the “mask police” and berate anyone who doesn’t conform. None of this makes any sense.

Would be great if the theory bears out in practice, as we need to get the country back to work NOW, not in some magical futre.

[Crim]

Say no to mask nazis.

[freedumb2003]

>>They wear them while driving alone in their own cars. They wear them outside in the sun while running or walking.<<

Agreed, that is just wishing. I get rid of the damn thing as soon as I am a bit away from the store building and people.

And yes, we need to get back to work now. Many of the closures were knee-jerk idiocy.

[Crim]

Then YOU wear a mask....problem solved.

[thecodont]

On the other hand, lots of people here in Cali have adopted some strong magical thinking about masks. They wear them while driving alone in their own cars. They wear them outside in the sun while running or walking. They become the “mask police” and berate anyone who doesn’t conform. None of this makes any sense.

Probably some of it has to do with the inconvenience of having to cover/remove constantly. The more you touch the mask, the more contaminated it gets, best (some think) to just put it on and leave it there. I don't see many people in enclosed vehicles with friends/family ("social bubble"?) wearing them, but taxi/Lyft/Uber drivers have to. As for walkers/joggers, same thing, most are barefaced until they get within the regular 30 feet/2 car lengths of a stranger, then on goes the mask.

[Optimom]

Glimpsing someone driving alone wearing a mask might be me, when I am doing several errands and going quickly from one business to the next. Just easier with my long hair to leave it be until I am finished.

[dynoman]

One guy driving with a mask passed out from mask hypoxia and hit a tree and died.

[Fledermaus]

Thank you for posting my daily dose of bullshit.

[Secret Agent Man]

and theres plenty of studies and studies of studies that show they dont work or are hardly better than none.

[absalom01]

So I had the weirdest experience this week.

I had just parked my car, in my own space, and gotten out. I had my mask in one hand, and a bag of tools in the other, when this guy, across the street, 30 feet away, starts yelling at me to “put your mask on”.

I should have been kinder. I could have been kinder. But somehow, some of the frustration with these morons leaked out, and I found that my command of certain pithy Anglo-Saxon words was undiminished. I think I might just have made my old DI proud, bless his crusty heart.

Dude actually called the cops, and I was so entertained that I waited for them. They were chill, and rolled their eyes when they explained to the poor sod that even in Cali, there is no mask mandate out of doors “unless it’s impossible to maintain 6’ of social distance”.

People are on edge though, and I’ve resolved to try to be better if/when a similar opportunity arises in the future.

[Secret Agent Man]

its really about compliance and control, and givng the peoplemthey have scared shiiteless Goldsteins to take their frustrations out on.

[FormerFRLurker]

What kind of mask was he wearing? Probably an N-95 and for an extended period of time. Wearing a cloth or paper mask for a 30 minute grocery run is nothing compared to the many medical professionals who wear their masks for 8 hours straight.

I’ve carried heavy groceries up 2 flights of stairs while wearing a mask. Seems to me if hypoxia was a serious concern I shouldn’t be capable of doing that.

[freedumb2003]

>>Glimpsing someone driving alone wearing a mask might be me, when I am doing several errands and going quickly from one business to the next. Just easier with my long hair to leave it be until I am finished.<<

I get that. I have a velcro mask (with replaceable filters) so it is easy fo r me to pop it on and pop it off.

[nevermorelenore]

Next you’ll be giving up your 2A rights for the good of others.

I will not give up my rights to virtue signal altruism

[Amendment10]

Thanks for saying what I wanted to say except for “sales pitch” for vitamin D3 in my non-medical opinion.

Health experts are saying that wearing fabric masks throws body chemistry out of balance even when there is no virus, especially when worn during exercise.

So question is, should “hazardous to your health” label be required for masks just like it is for a pack of cigarettes?

Putting on my tinfoil hat, I wonder if elite, deep state Dems are in cahoots with Chinese to conceal microchip microphone in every mask? /semi-sarc

[TigersEye]

I think I'll believe multiple studies done before the political hysteria of 2020.

Masks Don't Work: A Review of Science Relevant to COVID-19 Social Policy

Here are key anchor points to the extensive scientific literature that establishes that wearing surgical masks and respirators (e.g., "N95") does not reduce the risk of contracting a verified illness:

Jacobs, J. L. et al. (2009) "Use of surgical face masks to reduce the incidence of the common cold among health care workers in Japan: A randomized controlled trial", American Journal of Infection Control, Volume 37, Issue 5, 417 - 419. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19216002

N95-masked health-care workers (HCW) were significantly more likely to experience headaches. Face mask use in HCW was not demonstrated to provide benefit in terms of cold symptoms or getting colds.

Seven more RCT studies at the link.

[Steven Tyler]

http://i.ebayimg.com/images/i/282001900925-0-1/s-l1000.jpg

I think my vintage Tony Esposito goalie mask should make the cut