New study: Face mask usage correlates with higher death rates

Arutz Sheva ^ | 1/5/22 | Y. Rabinowitz

[Eleutheria5]

A new peer-reviewed study entitled: "Correlation Between Mask Compliance and COVID-19 Outcomes in Europe" has demonstrated that use of face masks, even widespread, did not correlate with better outcomes during the COVID epidemic, based on data from 35 European countries with populations of over one million people each, encompassing a total of 602 million people.

The study noted that the average proportion of mask usage in the period investigated (October 2020 until March 2021) was 60.9% ± 19.9%.

Governments and advisory bodies have recommended and often mandated the wearing of face masks in public spaces and in many areas mandates or recommendations remain in place, despite the fact, the study notes, that randomized controlled trials from prior to and during the epidemic have failed to show a benefit to the wearing of such masks with regard to COVID transmission.

"Positive correlation between mask usage and cases was not statistically significant," the study also found, "while the correlation between mask usage and deaths was positive and significant (rho = 0.351, p = 0.039)." That is to say, more mask usage correlated with a higher death rate.

.....

[Eleutheria5]

They want to kill people who fly, of course. Carbon footprints and all that.

[kvanbrunt2]

I wonder if they tested a real mask like the 3m6000. protects me not you type mask that is illegal.

[consult]

Study link:
https://www.cureus.com/articles/93826-correlation-between-mask-compliance-and-covid-19-outcomes-in-europe

Cureus. 2022;14(4):e24268. doi:10.7759/cureus.24268

Conclusions
While no cause-effect conclusions could be inferred from this observational analysis, the lack of negative correlations between mask usage and COVID-19 cases and deaths suggest that the widespread use of masks at a time when an effective intervention was most needed, i.e., during the strong 2020-2021 autumn-winter peak, was not able to reduce COVID-19 transmission. Moreover, the moderate positive correlation between mask usage and deaths in Western Europe also suggests that the universal use of masks may have had harmful unintended consequences.

Wonder if the media will ignore this....otherwise we would see liberal heads explode and the CDC would have some explaining to to.

[Jim Noble]

You know, correlation is not causation.

Mask use probably correlates with risk of harm from COVID, show me age/sex/BMI matched data before I buy it.

[kvanbrunt2]

or this p100

https://www.amazon.com/Dr%C3%A4ger-Respirator-Combination-Respiratory-Protection/dp/B08KWD5JTM

[consult]

This study was massive and thus hard to argue against it. Given that 16/17 Randomized clinical trials show no benefit with face masks preventing viruses and the concern that face masks leads to extra touching (and thus hand contamination).....it’s the reason Fauci and every other expert said during the initial month of the pandemic....until they were silenced and the entire medical establishment went with masks (holding up the proof of modelling and observational studies....less proof than this study).

Forcing masks was all about compliance / control.

[Parley Baer]

No doubt in my mind that this is true.

[olivia3boys]

BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit commuter train) in SF just reinstated their mask mandate after a “flood of calls and complaints” after they lifted it after the FL federal judge’s ruling.

BART has stated they are uneasy about the ban now because they KNOW there is no health authority (county or state) mandating it anymore, but they did it anyway. They are now acting as their own health agency. I hope someone sues. . .

After two years away from BART I had just started taking it again once a week after the ban was lifted. I was the only one who opted to unmask during my commute. The fine is supposed to be $75. I think I’ll take my chances as only 6 people have been fined on BART in the past 2 years. I think it’s simply illegal for BART to force masking (while they do allow druggies and stinky homeless to ride BART!)

[Basket_of_Deplorables]

Masks are a public display of allegiance to the Woke State Borg.

Nothing else.

And parents that mask their kids are demonstrating where their loyalties lie. That’s why it’s so important to the Woke State Borg.

They get a head count.

[consult]

To be “smart” one should concede that surgical masks may work in some instances:

A surgical masks is worn in the operating room to reduce the chance that that one would infect an open wound with bacteria from their mouth. It also blocks blood or other potentially infectious materials from reaching the wearer’s skin, mouth, or mucous membranes. Keeps droplets and larger particles from being inhaled. A surgical mask, by design, does not filter or block very small particles in the air that may be transmitted by coughs, sneezes, or certain medical procedures. Surgical masks also do not provide complete protection from germs and other contaminants because of the loose fit between the surface of the face mask and the face. If worn properly, a surgical mask is meant to help block large-particle droplets, splashes, sprays, or splatter that may contain germs (viruses and bacteria), keeping it from reaching your mouth and nose.

Thus a person actively coughing and sneezing due to an upper respiratory infection likely gives some benefit to those around him/her. Masking up when you have a cold is likely a good idea. Surgical masks may help reduce exposure of your saliva and respiratory secretions to others.

[AndyTheBear]

...show me age/sex/BMI matched data before I buy it.

The article did not seem to have a link to the study, but I found it The "Study Design" section says:

This analysis aimed to verify whether mask usage was correlated with COVID-19 morbidity and mortality. Daily data on COVID-19 cases and deaths and on mask usage were obtained for all European countries. The rationale behind the choice of European countries for comparison was fourfold:

1. availability and reliability of data;
2. a relative population homogeneity and shared history of epidemics (comparing countries from different continents may bring too many confounding factors)
3. similar age stratification and access to health assistance; and
4. divergent masking policies and different percentages of mask usage among the different populations, despite the fact that the entire continent was undergoing an outburst of COVID-19 at the time period analysed in this study.

[MrBambaLaMamba]

[AndyTheBear]

Thus a person actively coughing and sneezing due to an upper respiratory infection likely gives some benefit to those around him/her.

In my experience it is both very impolite and very unusual for somebody to cough or sneeze directly at another person. Turning away and covering one's face seems to be very common. Seems it is just good manners and part of basic consideration for others that existed long before the push for wearing masks.

Now of course the spittle and what-not is still expelled into the air. Maybe partly in one's hand or on one's sleeve, or toward the ground if someone has turned down to the side to sneeze. If they were wearing one of the typical everyday masks with the gaps around the nose that are ubiquitous in common everyday usage under mandates, the spittle of course would be in the mask. Either way that spittle will likely get into the air as smaller particles over time, but in neither case will it be likely to be sprayed as large particles directly on another.

[Trailerpark Badass]

Thus a person actively coughing and sneezing due to an upper respiratory infection likely gives some benefit to those around him/her.

Even more beneficial is staying home when you're actively coughing and sneezing due to an upper respiratory infection. More polite, also.

[Trillian]

[dkGba]

I just wonder what kind of masks were worn, did everyone wear same kind of mask? did they fit and were they worn properly, did users practice good mask hygiene? Did they enter into higher risk situations because mask made them feel ‘safe’?

[AndyTheBear]

From my own experience observing people wearing masks during this pandemic just about nobody has a mask that does not have a gap on either side of the nose. Many of those papery blue ones I think everyone has seen till were sick of it. And plenty of people with cloth ones of various sort. None of them tight enough to prevent air from going around them as the person breaths. And several with the mask actually slipping beneath the nose.

Bottom line the reason that masks don't work in the public like they do in hospital settings is because people do a bad job wearing effective masks effectively. Effective masks as I understand it are a real pain. They leave a mark on your face where they've hugged it close enough to prevent air leaking around them. They are not easy to breath through. Wearing them all the time is just more than the general public wants to do when they can get away with ineffective masks that are only a bit annoying--but by all the science I am aware of don't make any positive difference .

[ManOfLaMuncha]

In 2008, Dr Fauci co-authored a paper for the NIH about the 1918 Spanish Flu epidemic, that caused millions of deaths worldwide, and 600,000 in America alone. In their studies they discovered that the majority of deaths were caused not by influenza, but by bacterial pneumonia...which was caused by forced wearing of masks. The Holocaust of the masked sheep had begun.

[Eleutheria5]

“Ah, but I was so much older then. I’m younger than that now.”

[Grampa Dave]

I had my annual BP check done at My HMO/PPO, today:

I got out of my car and put on my mask from India. Then, I walked about 125 yards from the parking lot to the BP check station.

I was then ushered into a BP room. I sat down with the mask still on, and the RN got the following results using her stethoscope and a BP arm band.

BP with mask still on: 137/87

3-5 minutes later after removal of mask:

BP without mask: 128/71

5/5/2022 ~ @ 2:15~2:25 pm.