Finally, a rational nation with respect to masks

[Gary K]

Finally, a sane nation that is making public policy according to the science.

American public health experts, led by Dr. Anthony Fauci, have struggled over the past couple of months to push a specific narrative on the public: Wearing a mask doesn't so much protect you from being infected with SARS-CoV-2, but if you are infected, wearing a mask could stop you from passing the virus to someone else.

The mainstream media has backed up these assertions with vague references to "science" and "research", while a coalition of celebrities and progressive activists have tried to tar anybody who doubts this narrative - or, worse, refuses to wear a mask at all times outside their home - as a "denier".

Well, if everybody who is skeptical of the "masks save lives, period" is a "denier", then how does one explain the Dutch government's decision to refuse to mandate mask wearing (the only place where masks must be worn in the Netherlands is on public transit).




On Thursday, Reuters reported that the Dutch government had decided the day before that it would not advise the public to wear masks to slow the spread of coronavirus because their effectiveness has not yet been proven.

The decision was announced by the Netherlands Minister for Medical Care Tamara van Ark following a review by the country's National Institute for Health. Following a resurgence in cases over the past week or so, the Dutch government has decided it will instead seek better adherence to social distancing rules.

"Because from a medical perspective there is no proven effectiveness of masks, the Cabinet has decided that there will be no national obligation for wearing non-medical masks” Van Ark said.​

Many European countries have made masks mandatory in public indoor stores and in crowded outdoor places. The US has generally followed suit, though some overzealous governors and local officials are also requiring people to wear masks in most outdoor scenarios, even when they aren't in a large crowd. And NY Gov Andrew Cuomo has pledged to launch an "investigation" into a "drive thru" concert on Long Island where the Chainsmokers and "DJ D-Sol" provided entertainment. This, despite the fact that a growing body of research and experience suggests that outdoor gatherings don't present a major risk of spread. Case in point: Cuomo and Mayor de Blasio are allowing protests to continue unabated, without question, despite the complete absence of evidence to suggest that COVID-19 cares about your personal politics.

The rest of this article can be found here.

 

[chair]

""RIVM chief Jaap van Dissel said that the organization was aware of studies that show masks help slow the spread of disease but it was not convinced they will help during the current coronavirus outbreak in the Netherlands.

He argued wearing masks incorrectly, together with worse adherence to social distancing rules, could increase the risk of transmitting the disease.

“So we think that if you’re going to use masks (in a public setting) ... then you must give good training for it,” he said.

Mask are currently required only on public transportation in the Netherlands and in airports."

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-h...-idUSKCN24U2UJ

It's not as simple as you presented it.

 

[Gary K]

And for every study that says masks help there are studies that show they do nothing. That's why mask mandates are unreasonable. People are forced to do things that have no conclusive evidence. If you want to go around breathing your own carbon dioxide and consequently lowering your own blood oxygen content to unsafe levels, go ahead. But don't tell me I have to do the same.

When you put a mask on you start breathing air that contains only 17% oxygen. That is 2% below the level of OSHA minimum requirements for oxygen. The effects on thinking and reaction times are like being drunk or sleep deprived. It also reduces the ability of your immune system to fight off all diseases. So, if you want to participate in that kind of self destruction, go right ahead. Just don't drive or do anything in which your increased reaction times can kill or injure someone else.

 

[expos4ever]

I suggest that a sober, unbiased evaluation of the data shows that masks are beneficial. From the US National Library of MedicineNational Institutes of Health:

A total of 19 randomised controlled trials were included in this study – 8 in community settings, 6 in healthcare settings and 5 as source control. Most of these randomised controlled trials used different interventions and outcome measures. In the community, masks appeared to be effective with and without hand hygiene, and both together are more protective. Randomised controlled trials in health care workers showed that respirators, if worn continually during a shift, were effective but not if worn intermittently. Medical masks were not effective, and cloth masks even less effective. When used by sick patients randomised controlled trials suggested protection of well contacts.

The study suggests that community mask use by well people could be beneficial, particularly for COVID-19, where transmission may be pre-symptomatic. The studies of masks as source control also suggest a benefit, and may be important during the COVID-19 pandemic in universal community face mask use as well as in health care settings. Trials in healthcare workers support the use of respirators continuously during a shift. This may prevent health worker infections and deaths from COVID-19, as aerosolisation in the hospital setting has been documented.

 

[expos4ever]

When you put a mask on you start breathing air that contains only 17% oxygen. That is 2% below the level of OSHA minimum requirements for oxygen. The effects on thinking and reaction times are like being drunk or sleep deprived. It also reduces the ability of your immune system to fight off all diseases.

Amy Price, PhD, a senior research scientist at Stanford’s Anesthesia Informatics and Media Laboratory:

I’ve heard so many misconceptions about cloth masks. Some people think that if you wear a mask for long periods of time you will trap and breathe in excess amounts of carbon dioxide, which could lead to brain damage. That’s just not true. A properly constructed mask provides more than enough ventilation.

 

[ok doser]

... Medical masks were not effective, and cloth masks even less effective.

:think:

"less effective" than "not effective"

They're negatively effective?

They INCREASE infection rates?

 

[Gary K]

:think:

"less effective" than "not effective"

They're negatively effective?

They INCREASE infection rates?

Oh, and don't forget N95 masks. Many of them are built with exhaust ports. I see pictures of people wearing them all the time. That neat little exhaust port emits the air the person breathes out in an unfiltered hi-speed stream which in effect sends your breath even further away from you than than if you were not wearing a mask.