Reply To: N95 masks with exhalation valves

Yserbius123,

“Other than the initial first weeks of confusion around COVID at what point was the communication “Wear masks as much as possible” at all confusing?”

Back in October 2020 you started a thread mocking the “confused” (skeptics or critics of the policies or mandates du jour), because you deemed yourself informed. In that thread, you wrote things like:

“If you wear a mask it doesn’t stop you from getting a virus, it stops me from getting the virus that you may unknowingly have!”

This is incorrect. Especially if you were going around wearing a N95 with an exhalation valve because you thought something had been “retracted” after 2020.

“Scientists and doctors figured out that the virus mostly travels through spittle. If I am wearing a mask and infected spittle lands on it, it is very likely that I will at one point touch it and receive the virus.”

This is incorrect. The primary mode of transmission appears to be via respiratory fluids, not spittle. And infection can occur when these droplets or aerosols are breathed in, not just via the hands.

” I am so much happier knowing that I will not get infected when I go to shul or the supermarket!”

This is incorrect. You can indeed still be infected, as many high-compliant folks have been.

“If everyone would wear masks, fear of infection would be much less and we would all be able to socialize normally.”

This is incorrect. High compliance does not reduce fear and promote normal socialization. In fact, the opposite seems true. Etc. ad nauseam.

Bottom line, if you are getting your information from “experts” or government authorities, they are doing a terrible job communicating accurate risk assessments, uncertainty, and scientifically correct information.