Has any neutral party tested these masks to see how effective they are?
And here’s something else. There are all sorts of masks out there. You can get ‘em at a medical supply house. You can get ‘em at the dollar store. No one can tell me these masks all offer the same “protection”. Yet evidently if you are wearing a mask - any mask - you’re good to go. No questions asked.
This whole thing is nuts.
“Has any neutral party tested these masks to see how effective they are?”
Yes there have been several studies on the effectiveness of masks. The most rigid study that I have seen showed that a good mask properly worn does offer temporary protection in a one on one close proximity situation (about 20-30 minutes if one person wears a mask, about an hour if both people are wearing them).
The key is to know when to wear them and when not to. The odds of catching COVID outside are about zero and even indoors walking around a big store or office, the chances are pretty low. The odds get pretty bad however if you are indoors within 3-4 feet of an infected person for more than ten minutes.