Maillot Rouge wrote: ↑20 Jul 2021, 1:59pm
My concerns are not with the evidence. Someone pointed out they don’t like masks.They were accused of being the reason ‘we can’t have nice things’.
No - that person did not say that they didn't like masks. That would have been a reasonable comment, there are plenty of things I don't like, but still do for the benefit of society.
What that person said was incorrect:
But will you wear a mask voluntarily for the sake of others?
The simple answer is no. It’s not an airborne virus, never was, never will be, it’s primary transmission pathway is touch / close contact. There were computer models produced very early on, using calculations, based on size and weight of the Virons, that showed them essentially dropping like stones once expelled on normal breathing. If aerosols are generated by certain conditions ( surgical procedures mostly) then a proper high spec mask would be sensible, for the medics / anyone else in your immediate vicinity, but they serve no useful purpose in everyday situations. Most of the contraptions that the majority of folk use to cover their faces are less than useless, some higher spec ( N95 etc ) masks are overkill, unless in very specific circumstances. Walking around a shop / pub whatever, breathing normally isn’t one of them. So I’m glad the people in charge have finally seen sense.
The virus is known to be airborne, and masks, even basic cloth masks, have been shown to be an effective measure to reduce transmission of the virus from those who have it (whether or not they are symptomatic) to those who don't.
That is a direct, and significant, influence on the R number. That means it has a direct, and significant, influence on the number of hospitalisations and the number of deaths.
Are they perfect? No, absolutely not.
Do they make a substantial difference? Yes.
People who ignore this do two things:
- They directly contribute to a significant increase in deaths both from COVID and from other illnesses which could have been treated had hospitals not been full of COVID patients.
- They directly contribute to a significant increase in infections, and therefore a significantly higher rate of mutation and, given the current prevalence of partly vaccinated people, a much higher chance of finding a vaccine resistant mutation.
I won't call someone who doesn't like masks a loon, but I will still be strongly suggesting that they suck it up and wear one for the relatively short time each day when it makes most difference to society.
For those who *can't* wear a mask of the conventional type exceptions must be made, but that is not what we are talking about here.