The Real Science on Masks: They Make No Difference

Breaking news: masks found to be as effective as wearing a unicorn costume

Summary:

1. The most rigorous and extensive review of scientific literature, conducted by the Cochrane review, concludes that neither surgical masks nor N95 masks have been shown to make a difference in reducing the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses.
2. Masks may keep out some pathogens but their inner surface can also trap concentrations of pathogens that are then breathed back into the lungs, offsetting any theoretical benefits.
3. Public health officials continue to recommend or mandate masks without proper evidence of their effectiveness or any cost-benefit analysis, and masks can cause social, psychological, and medical problems.

The most rigorous and extensive review of scientific literature, conducted by the Cochrane review, concludes that neither surgical masks nor N95 masks have been shown to make a difference in reducing the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses.

Whatever theoretical benefits there might be, in clinical trials the benefits have turned out to be either illusory or offset by negative factors. 

Oxford’s Tom Jefferson, the lead author of the Cochrane review, summed up the real science on masks: 'There is just no evidence that they make any difference. Full stop.'

Masks may keep out some pathogens but their inner surface can also trap concentrations of pathogens that are then breathed back into the lungs, offsetting any theoretical benefits.

Public health officials continue to recommend or mandate masks without proper evidence of their effectiveness or any cost-benefit analysis, and masks can cause social, psychological, and medical problems.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been one of the most challenging public health crises in modern history, with the virus continuing to spread across the world. To slow its spread, masks have become a ubiquitous accessory in our daily lives. But what if the science behind their effectiveness was flawed?

According to a recent Cochrane review, masks, whether surgical or N95, have not been shown to make a difference in reducing the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses. The review, conducted by a dozen researchers from six countries, concludes that wearing any kind of face covering "probably makes little or no difference" in reducing the spread of respiratory illness.

Before the pandemic, clinical trials repeatedly showed little or no benefit from wearing masks in preventing the spread of respiratory illnesses like flu and colds. That was why, in their pre-2020 plans for dealing with a viral pandemic, the World Health Organization, the CDC, and other national public health agencies did not recommend masking the public. But once COVID-19 arrived, magical thinking prevailed. Officials ignored the previous findings and plans, instead touting crude and easily debunked studies purporting to show that masks worked.

It may seem intuitive that masks must do something. But even if they do trap droplets from coughs or sneezes (the reason that surgeons wear masks), they still allow tiny viruses to spread by aerosol even when worn correctly—and it’s unrealistic to expect most people to do so. While a mask may keep out some pathogens, its inner surface can also trap concentrations of pathogens that are then breathed back into the lungs.

Whatever theoretical benefits there might be, in clinical trials, the benefits have turned out to be either illusory or offset by negative factors. Oxford’s Tom Jefferson, the lead author of the Cochrane review, summed up the real science of masks: “There is just no evidence that they make any difference. Full stop.”

Moreover, masks can cause social, psychological, and medical problems, including "Mask-Induced Exhaustion Syndrome." The downsides of mask-wearing have been largely ignored by public health officials, journalists, and social media platforms.

Despite the lack of evidence, public health officials continue to recommend or mandate masks without proper evidence of their effectiveness or any cost-benefit analysis. Masks are still required in many hospitals and other institutions, and the CDC continues to recommend masking all students in communities where infection rates are rising, despite data showing that COVID.

Inspiration, here.

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Tweet: To mask or not to mask? The Cochrane review suggests wearing any face covering makes little or no difference in reducing respiratory illness. Will public health leaders and media outlets continue to ignore actual science? #maskmandates #COVID19 #publichealth #CochraneReview

Keywords: masks, COVID-19, pandemic, public health, scientific evidence, Cochrane, randomized clinical trials

Search question: Are masks effective in preventing the spread of COVID-19?

Intro paragraph for the LinkedIn post: With the pandemic continuing to affect our daily lives, masks have become a constant presence. But do they really make a difference in preventing the spread of COVID-19? The most comprehensive review of the scientific literature to date says no. In this blog, we'll examine the real science of masks and why they may not be the effective solution that public health officials and the media have claimed them to be.

Song: "Mask Off" by Future

An image of a broken or cracked mask symbolizes the idea that masks may not be as effective as we once thought.