So surely then now there is a mask that protects the wearer then problem solved, if you want to wear a mask then wear one that protects yourself then you needn't worry what other people are doing.
Exactly.
But we all know it's really about imposing authoritarianism rather than any scientific reason.
https://twitter.com/richdavisphd/status/1276629364067536897 This is a visual (but non scientific) demonstration of the benefit of masks. Social distancing is more effective, but where it isn't possible a mask has benefits, have you tried spitting with one on?
The virus particles don't travel on their own, they travel on droplets of water in your breath.
This isn't scientific, as you say. It's theoretical.
The question is actually whether standard flimsy masks are effective at preventing transmission.
FFP2/3 masks do prevent virus particles from spreading, I agree.
However the standard flimsy loose-fitting masks that complied with mask mandates do not, according to a member of SAGE:
Dr Colin Axon warned some cloth masks have gaps that are invisible to the naked eye, but are 5000 times the size of viral Covid particles
www.telegraph.co.uk
Dr Colin Axon warned some cloth masks have gaps that are invisible to the naked eye, but are 500,000 times the size of viral Covid particles
Standard
face coverings are just "comfort blankets" that do little to reduce the spread of Covid particles, a scientist advising Sage on ventilation has said.
Robert Dingwall, who is a member of Scientific Pandemic Influenza Group on Modelling (SPI-M), which reports to Sage, stated:
Experts appear divided on whether people in England should be asked to continue to wear facemasks after July 19.
www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk
Robert Dingwall, professor of sociology at Nottingham Trent University, said: “The benefits of masks have always been uncertain because the quality of the evidence in both directions is so weak.
“Any benefit has probably been quite small, or it would have been obvious even from weak studies, and needs to be offset by the psychological impact on population fear and anxiety, on children’s learning and interactions with adults, on people with communication issues, and on the substantial number of adults who cannot wear masks because of underlying health conditions or other disorders, including previous trauma from assaults or abuse or worse
“In my opinion it is a positive step to make mask-wearing voluntary.”
A study, reported in this BBC article, found flimsy loose fitting masks did not protect against Sars-CoV-2 infection, whereas FFP3 masks did:
Wearing a high grade FFP3 mask can almost entirely protect health workers from Covid, research finds.
www.bbc.co.uk
Wearing a high grade mask known as an FFP3 can provide up to 100% protection.
By contrast, there is a far greater chance of staff wearing standard issue surgical masks catching the virus.
[Standard] masks are relatively flimsy and loose-fitting and are not meant to screen out infectious aerosols - tiny virus particles that can linger in the air and are now widely accepted as a source of coronavirus infection.
The study found high levels of infection with standard masks, which was 47 times higher than when effective masks were worn. Obviously we don't have a 'control group' with no masks, but the results are very damning for the standard, flimsy surgical masks.
Obviously in pubs etc people aren't wearing them, you cant eat and drink with one on, so in other locations the majority still are choosing to wear them
In some locations the majority are, but in most locations people generally are not, but that's for another thread
More than half is a majority
But it's extremely slim, and dropping all the time.
The study was referring to protecting the wearer, which is not what the fabric masks are about, see above.
Given the vast majority of the population has had the chance to be fully vaccinated and those who aren't, are generally younger people with good innate immune systems, the small minority of people who want additional protection can make that choice.
Trying to dictate that others wear a standard, flimsy loose fitting mask which does not filter virus particles, does not stop the spread of SARS-CoV-2, and therefore is utterly pointless.
All it does is divide society and make things difficult for people with hidden disabilities, particularly those who are hard of hearing.
What I meant was that until 10 days ago, it was mandatory to wear a mask in a pub or cafe
while walking to and from your table, going to the toilet, etc and in may experience,
99% of people complied with that particular requirement, but since July 19th, I haven't seen
anyone in a pub or cafe wearing a mask when not seated when I expected it to be 60/40,
as it is in shops - why have people ditched masked en masse in pubs but not in shops??
Indeed people used to wear masks when walking around pubs/restaurants, but now generally do not.
I think this is purely down to 'emotional blackmail' - most shops have posters on the door
explaining that while you no longer have to wear mask, they would like you to continue to
do so "out of consideration for others". This messaging makes people (myself included) feel
that if they chose not to wear a mask they will be automatically be labelled as inconsiderate/
selfish by other shoppers, and is the main reason why so many are still wearing masks in
retail environments.
Exactly what it is, emotional blackmail.
