Face masks ward off covid-19, so why are we still arguing about it?

newscientist ^ | 10/31/2023 | Michael Le Page

[ChicagoConservative27]

A review of the studies done so far has concluded that wearing masks really does help prevent the spread of covid-19. It is far from the first paper to come to this finding, so why does the issue remain so controversial? The problem is that it isn’t easy to carry out individual studies of the highest standard during a pandemic.

That standard is a randomised controlled trial (RCT), in which people are randomly assigned to either get a treatment or intervention, in this case wearing a mask, or not. Because of the practical difficulties, only two RCTs have looked at whether wearing masks prevents the spread of covid-19 outside of healthcare settings.

One, in Denmark, was too small to produce a statistically significant result. The other, in Bangladesh, found that in villages randomly chosen to be supplied with masks, 35 per cent fewer people aged more than 60 years old and 10 per cent fewer people overall got symptomatic infections, compared with villages that weren’t supplied with masks.

[Bshaw]

I had to look back to find your post recommending Aldous Huxley’s works. What absolute reading joy!

I have completed reading both Crome Yellow and The Devils of Loudun since your Huxley-recommendation and will be starting Brave New World in short order.

Some of his books are very difficult to find, but eBay has been my friend. Much appreciation to your pointing me in this direction; Huxley’s writings are superb and I cannot get and read them fast enough.

[wjcsux]

I’m really happy that you discovered Huxley! Ayn Rand is a must read as well. I’m guessing that the literary works of Huxley, Orwell and Rand may start disappearing in the not too distant future.

[gitmo]

It’s like putting up those yellow posts to keep cars from driving onto your property, but spacing them every two miles.

[gibsonguy]

Good one, where has this post been? Original was almost 5 months ago