Why is the mask thing even mentioned, it was dubious as hell when they first pushed it but study after study comes out showing they don’t stop spread
But then again, the CDC was pushing the idea that getting vaccinated means you won’t get sick so I guess believing the CDC holds some scientific validity is an error to begin
But does it stop individual infection? Studies show that lower quality masks and poor masking rigor may mean it's not effective for a large, lax, population, but do you have evidence that the proper use of an N95 doesn't markedly reduce the chance of an individual becoming infected with COVID?
There was a chance that this was going to be true. It didn't turn out that way. You're basically blaming them for trying, or what is your point?
COVID vaccines have a well measured non-zero efficacy.
I'm curious to hear what studies you were thinking of. FWIW, N95 filter material has been repeatedly seen to block viral particles.
In the Cochrane review [1] they found
> relatively low adherence with the interventions during the studies hampers drawing firm conclusion
That is, studies which took a random group of people and said "please wear a mask, so we can see if you catch less $DISEASE," weren't effective...because people wouldn't wear the mask. This is, I think, a useful result--but it doesn't mean that wearing a mask doesn't stop disease from spreading; it means that telling people to wear a mask doesn't work so well.
[1]: https://www.cochrane.org/CD006207/ARI_do-physical-measures-s...
edit:
> it was dubious as hell when they first pushed it
But why? Why was it dubious that respiratory protection would be effective against a respiratory virus?
How many had mild cases?
Were there any severe cases?
In other news, being an expert in disease transmission does not make your immune system better.
* 181 (13%) respondents reported testing positive for SARS-CoV-2
* Of those who reported testing positive, 52% reported no known prior COVID-19 infection
* 1,435 (99.4%) of respondents reported at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose
* 49 (27%) of the respondents who tested positive received antiviral medications
* 70% of respondents reported not wearing a mask; the event coincided with a period of low COVID-19 Community Levels, where masking is not recommended in CDC guidance
* None were hospitalized
