Read on Twitter
Science has a lot to say about the effectiveness of wearing a mask to stop Covid-19, but the communication of that science has been corrupted by:
Partisan divides
Sensationalist media stories
Distrust
False dichotomies https://trib.al/xzMKmkv
Partisan divides Sensationalist media stories Distrust False dichotomies https://trib.al/xzMKmkv
The studies on masks arenāt perfect, but thatās typical of many issues involving health risks ā from mercury contamination to cancer screenings.
Itās still better to make decisions based on an incomplete body of evidence than to ignore evidence altogether https://trib.al/xzMKmkv
Itās still better to make decisions based on an incomplete body of evidence than to ignore evidence altogether https://trib.al/xzMKmkv
A consensus is finally starting to form that thereās a negligible risk outdoors away from other people, and that very brief encounters pose very little risk, such as:
Walking
Running
Cycling
https://trib.al/xzMKmkv
WalkingRunningCyclinghttps://trib.al/xzMKmkv
Common sense would suggest that if an activity poses negligible risk, then wearing a mask offers only a negligible benefit, and should be optional https://trib.al/xzMKmkv
On the other extreme are potential super-spreading events ā anywhere many people are confined indoors, especially if thereās close contact.
Trumpās rally is a good example. There, common sense would dictate that such events should not take place at all https://trib.al/xzMKmkv
Trumpās rally is a good example. There, common sense would dictate that such events should not take place at all https://trib.al/xzMKmkv
Mask wearing is likely to do the most good in settings where people have little choice but to interact in enclosed spaces:
Grocery shopping
Riding public transportation
Ride-sharing
Getting a haircut
Seeing a doctor
https://trib.al/xzMKmkv
Grocery shopping Riding public transportation Ride-sharing Getting a haircut Seeing a doctorhttps://trib.al/xzMKmkv
Also in this middle category is gathering outdoors in large groups ā such as at a protest.
If most protestors wear a mask at all times, this will likely reduce transmissions https://trib.al/xzMKmkv
If most protestors wear a mask at all times, this will likely reduce transmissions https://trib.al/xzMKmkv
And length of exposure matters a lot, so these professionals face a much higher risk than their customers: 
Bus drivers
Haircutters
Store clerksTheir risk very likely goes down if customers wear masks https://trib.al/xzMKmkv
Then thereās a problematic category of activities, such as eating in restaurants, where masks canāt be worn constantly.
Some experts say such āfiddlingā with masks is only going to spread any viruses the mask has captured https://trib.al/xzMKmkv
Some experts say such āfiddlingā with masks is only going to spread any viruses the mask has captured https://trib.al/xzMKmkv
The risks associated with close contact and crowds seem obvious and intuitive.
And yet Americans have been fixated on the unlikely possibility that infectious doses of virus would fly off cyclists or creep in on packages https://trib.al/xzMKmkv
And yet Americans have been fixated on the unlikely possibility that infectious doses of virus would fly off cyclists or creep in on packages https://trib.al/xzMKmkv
Some people have adopted irrational mask-wearing practices, such as keeping one on while riding or driving, but pulling it down to congregate and chat with groups of people https://trib.al/xzMKmkv
And itās no surprise that politics would infuse the issue. In the U.S., we have some fraction of people wearing a mask all the time, and some fraction never wearing one.
It would be better if everyone wore one when it was likely to help https://trib.al/xzMKmkv
It would be better if everyone wore one when it was likely to help https://trib.al/xzMKmkv
