I saw this article in the Times but could not believe that this was the article being referred to since it proves the point that masks CANNOT work to stop a virus. If only a percentage of the particles are being trapped by the fibers, but not all, that would be enough to infect another person. Remember, this is a highly contagious disease, which means that even one virus-containing droplet would be enough. (If it’s not that contagious, we certainly don’t need masks.) Then, the argument that the other person’s mask will serve as further protection is completely invalid, when you remember that as untrained lay people we all touch our masks, our faces, our eyes–so any viral material on the next person’s mask is actually a vector for germ spreading.
But the bottom line is that it’s all very hypothetical–what we do not have is evidence that masking the entire population, with the negative effects that they have (for example, see the article “Mask Fatigue Hits America: Workers Cite Headaches, Anxiety” and the journal article “Headaches and the N95 face-mask amongst healthcare providers”) has any real benefit in preventing the virus from spreading. So to go around telling people “it’s pikuach nefesh, how could you not wear a mask” is just wrong. Wearing a mask has not been proven to save even one life. (If someone has such proof, please let me know.)
The fact that all the departments of health etc etc are all backing the wearing of masks is really not relevant, as that’s what happens in the current climate of scientific censorship–the voice of industry is very powerful and that’s what you’re going to hear over and over. Propaganda is a very powerful tool–repeat something enough times and it becomes true.
And remember this from the great Fauci himself: When you’re in the middle of an outbreak, wearing a mask might make you feel better and it might even stop a droplet but it doesn’t provide the perfect protection people think it does and might even have unintended consequences because people touch their masks, fiddle with their masks..
He then lamely retracted and said, oh yeah, that was because we didn’t have enough masks–so he admits to being a liar, except as with all liars, you can’t really trust them on when they’re lying.
If you feel protected by a mask, by all means, wear one. Just remember to take “breathing breaks” (?!?–I thought we are getting enough oxygen) and stay away from those who choose not to wear one if you’re nervous. But don’t tell me to do something that makes me feel anxious and gasping for breath when there is no strong evidence backing you.