I’m not sure how this became a political issue. I just go by what the science says. The COVID-19 virus is 0.125 µm in size. Surgical masks have been shown to not adequately filter against aerosols measuring from 0.9-3.1 µm. (Citation) Am. J Infect. Contol. 2008:36:276-282.
Or we can go by what The WHO says. In guidance issued on April 6, The WHO said that medical masks should be reserved for health workers. Most spread of the covid-19 virus is from known cases and requires contact with droplets from a cough or sneeze or infected surfaces. It said that “there is currently no evidence that wearing a mask (whether medical or other types) by healthy persons in the wider community setting, including universal community masking, can prevent them from infection with respiratory viruses, including covid-19.””If you do not have any repository symptoms such as fever, cough or runny nose, you do not need to wear a mask,” Dr. April Baller, a public health specialist for the WHO, says in a video on the world health body’s website posted in March. “Masks should only be used by health care workers, caretakers or by people who are sick with symptoms of fever and cough.”
There are also studies that “caution against the use of cloth masks. This is an important finding to inform occupational health and safety. Moisture retention, reuse of cloth masks and poor filtration may result in increased risk of infection.” (Citation) Additional studies report that “among outpatient health care personnel, N95 respirators vs medical masks as worn by participants in this trial resulted in no significant difference in the incidence of laboratory-confirmed influenza.” (Citation)
There are also risks for people with COPD. Studies show that “there is an increase of nasal resistance upon removal of N95 respirator and surgical facemask after 3hours wearing which potentially due to nasal physiological changes, instead of the size of nasal airways. The nasal resistance was not recovered even after 1.5hours removal of respirator/facemask.” (Citation)
What’s the big deal about wearing a mask? Why do I care? Seeing everyone is masks creates an alarmist atmosphere, and makes people feel like the world is not a safe place to live in, which lowers innate immune systems. I also don’t appreciate being manipulated. It’s a way to constantly remind people that a virus is present since we can’t see it. I also value my freedoms that have been taken away at an alarming rate. Connecticut, Hawaii and New Jersey are among a small handful of states where governments have mandated that masks be worn by people in public. We do have constitutional rights in the United States of America that allow us to choose what we wear and do not wear. Of course our freedoms are balanced against our public health needs. So I’m going to need science to back up these needs before I’m willing to give up my freedoms.
We are not living in a time when taking someone’s word is enough; be it an organization, a politician, a doctor, a blogger, a social media commentator etc. I go where the research takes me, and these are my findings time and time again. Masks are clearly being used to make it look like we are doing something, we are fighting the good fight, we are helping our fellow neighbors, we have control, we are good Americans, but they just aren’t effective. We keep hearing that the country should open based on science and data, and that’s what I’m looking at. I’m not looking at news articles, or opinion, but rather case studies and data. There is an atmosphere of shaming those who chose not to wear a mask. People are being pitted against one another. Tension and aggression is mounting. I wrote this post many weeks ago, but chose not to post it until now just to avoid being the target of people’s emotional triggers. However, this is just how I’m built. When I feel strongly about something, and I can back it up with evidence, I feel compelled to share. I’m sure that’s why I became a lawyer many years ago.
More Studies:
Why do you want to avoid homemade cloth masks? (Case Study: LINK) Article empaling it if you don’t like reading case studies (LINK)
Effectiveness of Surgical and Cotton Masks in Blocking SARS–CoV-2: A Controlled Comparison in 4 Patients (LINK)
A cluster randomised trial of cloth masks compared with medical masks in healthcare workers (LINK)
A study published in 1993 concluded that “among outpatient health care personnel, N95 respirators vs medical masks as worn by participants in this trial resulted in no significant difference in the incidence of laboratory-confirmed influenza. Citation.
COVID-19 Case Report: No HCWs Infected, Most Didn’t Wear N95 Masks (LINK)
Covid-19: What is the evidence for cloth masks? (LINK)
Dr. Blaylock: Face Masks Pose Serious Risks To The Healthy – Hypoxia And Hypercapnia (LINK)
The Physiological Impact of N95 Masks on Medical Staff (LINK)
Some Coronavirus Patients Show Signs of Brain Ailments (LINK)
Headaches and the N95 face-mask amongst healthcare providers (LINK)
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