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Many months later, the Scottish Government finally responded to my FOI request on masks.
I asked:
- The evidence to support the wearing of face coverings, including data on the effectiveness of
such measures.
- The scientific studies on the risk of wearing face coverings
I asked:
- The evidence to support the wearing of face coverings, including data on the effectiveness of
such measures.
- The scientific studies on the risk of wearing face coverings
They replied with the following. And I'll try and break it down.
"Regarding face coverings, decisions were based on evidence and
advice from the World HealthOrganisation (WHO) and Scientific AdvisoryGroup for Emergencies
(SAGE)."
"Regarding face coverings, decisions were based on evidence and
advice from the World HealthOrganisation (WHO) and Scientific AdvisoryGroup for Emergencies
(SAGE)."
So, June 4th SAGE minutes.
As seen here; https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/892043/S0484_Transmission_of_SARS-CoV-2_and_Mitigating_Measures.pdf
As seen here; https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/892043/S0484_Transmission_of_SARS-CoV-2_and_Mitigating_Measures.pdf
This is their EVIDENCE:
"Evidence: Some evidence from measurements with people, mechanistic data from laboratory/modelling shows materials can block a proportion of droplets and aerosols. Face coverings are detailed in earlier NERVTAG paper and a DELVE review."
"Evidence: Some evidence from measurements with people, mechanistic data from laboratory/modelling shows materials can block a proportion of droplets and aerosols. Face coverings are detailed in earlier NERVTAG paper and a DELVE review."
Note: THEY DO NOT PROVIDE ANY EVIDENCE. There is no link to a study, no data, nothing. Even what they do admit is flimsy; "mechanistic data from labs/modeling".
It only ever mentions droplets/aerosols - we already know this. That doesn't equal infection rate reduction.
It only ever mentions droplets/aerosols - we already know this. That doesn't equal infection rate reduction.
Onto the WHO guidance, as found here; https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/advice-on-the-use-of-masks-in-the-community-during-home-care-and-in-healthcare-settings-in-the-context-of-the-novel-coronavirus-(2019-ncov)-outbreak - let's see some of it in the following tweets....
"There is limited evidence that wearing a medical mask by healthy individuals in households, in particular those who share a house with a sick person, or among attendees of mass gatherings may be beneficial as a measure preventing transmission." ..... cont..
"At present, there is no direct evidence (from studies on COVID19 and in healthy people in the community) on the
effectiveness of universal masking of healthy people in the community to prevent infection with respiratory viruses, including COVID-19."
OH. How inconvenient.
effectiveness of universal masking of healthy people in the community to prevent infection with respiratory viruses, including COVID-19."
OH. How inconvenient.
"At the present time, the widespread use of masks by healthy people in the community setting is not yet supported by high quality or direct scientific evidence and there are potential benefits and harms to consider".
We then get table 2, which says:
"Potential benefit for source control"
"Potential benefit for source control"
They then link me to https://post.parliament.uk/covid-19-july-update-on-face-masks-and-face-coverings-for-the-general-public/
Note it says: "Face coverings offer some protection by limiting transmission of virus from the wearer. The degree of protection is uncertain."
Note it says: "Face coverings offer some protection by limiting transmission of virus from the wearer. The degree of protection is uncertain."
It also says:
"There is no published research from randomised controlled trials on the role of masks or face coverings worn by the general population in the transmission of SARS-CoV-2".
They also link to the Denmark study...
"There is no published research from randomised controlled trials on the role of masks or face coverings worn by the general population in the transmission of SARS-CoV-2".
They also link to the Denmark study...
https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04337541?term=mask&cond=COVID-19&draw=2&rank=1
"...the Danish Health Authorities recommend using facial masks in the health care system when handling patients presumed or proven to be infected with the virus. However, the use of facial masks outside the health care system is not recommended by the DHA"
"...the Danish Health Authorities recommend using facial masks in the health care system when handling patients presumed or proven to be infected with the virus. However, the use of facial masks outside the health care system is not recommended by the DHA"
We continue to await the results of this trial.
Further in the UK document:
"There is weak evidence of an effect if a mask is worn by an infected person, but making accurate estimates of the degree of protection ... based on the available evidence is not possible at the moment."
Further in the UK document:
"There is weak evidence of an effect if a mask is worn by an infected person, but making accurate estimates of the degree of protection ... based on the available evidence is not possible at the moment."
So let's sum this up.
NO EVIDENCE of transmission reduction.
No studies to back up the policy. No data.
No published research.
Let us finish with the data we DO have publicly..... https://twitter.com/CovidSenseBloke/status/1297865055036411905?s=20
NO EVIDENCE of transmission reduction.
No studies to back up the policy. No data.
No published research.
Let us finish with the data we DO have publicly..... https://twitter.com/CovidSenseBloke/status/1297865055036411905?s=20
