Free Republic

While Covid-19 rates have been increasing throughout much of the country, the message from many of our public health and political leaders has become one of minimizing and denial. This is happening nationwide, but some physicians at Boston’s preeminent hospitals are more often in the news. We know that high-quality masks work to prevent infection. But Boston area hospitals (among others) dropped masking requirements on May 12. Massachusetts General Brigham went so far as to tell patients they can no longer ask staff members to mask. This has understandably caused an outcry among immunocompromised patients who fear seeking care due...

COVID-19 cases are expected to rise this fall as new variants become more prevalent. And, as unfortunately expected, it’s already triggered demands by some of our more zealous public health enforcers, not to mention some teachers’ unions, to reinstate mitigation measures including mandatory masking. Some researchers are already recommending that when cases go up, people will need to wear masks indoors again. ... None of this incipient hysteria is warranted. The SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19 is, as expected, continuing to mutate. The EG.5 variant is the most common US strain now, making up an estimated 21% of new infections...

Amid rising Covid cases in Los Angeles, Lionsgate has brought back the mask mandate for nearly half of the company’s employees at its flagship office at 2700 Colorado Ave. in Santa Monica. The policy change was announced internally by Sommer McElroy, Response Manager for Lionsgate/Starz, in an email, a copy of which was obtained by Deadline. Implemented in response to several employees recently testing positive for Covid, it involves a mandatory mask mandate effective immediately and until further notice for the 3rd and 5th floors of the five-story building, the email said. “Employees must wear a medical grade face covering...

The corporate media has reported that face masks may raise the risk of stillbirths, testicular dysfunction and cognitive decline due to the build-up of carbon dioxide.They didn’t mention all the other problems proven to be associated with mask use.By Dr. Vernon Coleman Amazingly, there are still some very stupid doctors around who are wearing face masks all day long and who are telling patients and the public to wear face masks. I suspect that these doctors are still promoting the use of face masks because their brains have been adversely affected.The UK Government has at last admitted that there is...

To ensure effectiveness, it’s important to buy authentic N95 and KN95 masks. Buy directly from the manufacturer’s website or a reputable site. Markings are printed on respirators to show that they are genuine. N95, N99, N100, P95, P100 masks are the only types that have National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) approvalTrusted Source. They will have a certification mark and the term “NIOSH-approved”. Make sure the masks are of high quality. Look out for loose straps or misalignment in terms of fit. Masks should not have decorative add-ons, such as sequins or tassels

Dr. Nicole Saphier questioned why the president was wearing a mask Monday while walking alone outside, after his own bout with the virus a month ago and with four COVID-19 vaccines under his belt. When arriving to tape a television segment about cars with Jay Leno at a Secret Service training facility in Beltsville, Maryland on Friday, Biden was seen walking to his motorcade wearing a black N-95 mask as an accessory to his navy blue suit and aviator sunglasses. Biden recovered from his own case of COVID in early August – after a rare rebound case. Less than 10...

The COVID-19 pandemic has led people to wear face masks daily in public. Although the effectiveness of face masks against viral transmission has been extensively studied, there have been few reports on potential hygiene issues due to bacteria and fungi attached to the face masks. We aimed to (1) quantify and identify the bacteria and fungi attaching to the masks, and (2) investigate whether the mask-attached microbes could be associated with the types and usage of the masks and individual lifestyles. We surveyed 109 volunteers on their mask usage and lifestyles, and cultured bacteria and fungi from either the face-side...

RICHMOND, Va. — Universal masking is now recommended for 50 localities in Virginia, and that once again includes much of Metro Richmond, according to the COVID Community Levels from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Nick Barragan is used to wearing a mask because his job in the Hollywood film industry has long required it. So he won't be fazed if the county that's home to Tinseltown soon becomes the first major population center this summer to reinstate rules requiring face coverings indoors because of another spike in coronavirus cases. “I feel fine about it because I’ve worn one pretty much constantly for the last few years. It’s become a habit,” said Barragan, masked up while out running errands Wednesday. Los Angeles is the most populous county, home to 10 million...

The Mask Studies You Should KnowFirst, a primer on the levels of the different levels of quality of research and the “Hierarchy of evidence.” Not all studies are equal in their level of certainty or quality, but the absolute most reliable and most certainty we can get usually comes from Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Control Trials. See the chart below from the Center for Evidence Based Medicine:Luckily we have the highest possible evidence we can get on the effectiveness of masks. A Systematic Review of Randomized Control Trials. Cochrane Library (widely considered a gold standard in evidence based...