A new study confirms what many have suspected all along: the popular blue surgical face masks used by nearly everyone do barely anything to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
The study, conducted by the University of Waterloo in Canada, found that surgical face masks only prevent the spread of Covid-19 a measly 10% of the time, with Serhiy Yarusevych, a professor of mechanical and mechatronics engineering and the lead researcher of the study, saying that the masks don’t properly cover the face, allowing droplets to escape from the sides and spreading into the surrounding air.
The study found that the more expensive and harder-to-obtain N95 and KN95 masks did do a better job, and are over 50% effective at preventing the spread of the Covid-19 virus, as those masks tightly cover the wearer’s face.
“There is no question it is beneficial to wear any face covering, both for protection in close proximity and at a distance in a room,” Yarusevych said. “However, there is a very serious difference in the effectiveness of different masks when it comes to controlling aerosols.”
The study also found that well-ventilated rooms provide as much protection against the spread of Covid-19 as do even the highest-quality masks.
The study’s findings bring into question Governor Phil Murphy’s recent executive order requiring everyone in schools to wear face coverings. If the masks don’t help, why are we bothering?
So all other studies are moot?! That’s not how things work.
But even if we can reduce it by less than 100%, is that not worth it? Why is it all or nothing?
It’s called risk benefit ratio. There is risk in everything like getting into the car, crossing the street, and eating food. But the risk is outweighed by the benefit. The benefit to the person does not outweigh the bother, the psycological aspect, the reduction in immune system, the destruction of society etc etc etc….for a disease which has a 99.9 survival rate….
If you are so concerned about your health, and don’t want to take risks, cut down your sugar, processed foods, sodas, hotdogs, etc which is causing all of us cancer, diabetes, hypertension etc…now that’s something you should be considering instead because the benefit does not outweigh the risk!!!!
Because there is damage forcing children to wear a mask for so many hours especially since they aren’t at risk.
Suddenly everyone is a psychologist! Everyone ‘knows’ the damage done to children when they are ‘forced’ to wear masks!
If children are ‘damaged’, it’s because they are used to hearing from their whiny parents how terrible it is. Kids can get used to it like they get used to pants and shirts. This whole damage is absolute nonsense.
Just wondering why you chose to highlight the study of a Canadian mechanical engineer on the effectiveness of face masks in preventing viral infection. There have been countless studies by health organizations, medical research labs, and governments around the world on the topic to date with varying results ranging from 26% to appx 80% effectiveness (depending on the type of mask and the environment it was studied). No one study concluded that masks alone was 100% effective, and certainly not if one doesn’t also take other measures along with it. Yes, cramming a room with people wearing ear-loop surgical masks will not be very effective. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist, or even a mechanical engineer to figure that out.
While masking kids in school is certainly debatable (as they won’t wear it properly, won’t learn much while wearing it, and aren’t in danger of serious illness in the first place) telling the general population that there is no merit to it is foolish at best, and irresponsible at worst.
Anecdotally, practically only people over 60 whom I know did not contract COVID were masks wearers. Yes, they also socially distanced and didn’t go to large gatherings. Evidently, taking countermeasures are effective to some degree and a basic form on hishtadlus in protecting ones health.
This is silly. You can’t cherry pick one study and use that to show how everything is wrong. Hating the governor and what he stands for, shouldn’t mean changing the science.
(And that is all besides the fact that no one ever thought masks are anywhere near perfect. All they’re supposed to do is lower the risk somewhat.)
The question is why you are only looking at that one study when there is plenty of data to the contrary. One of the most recent studies from Dr. Daniel K. Benjamin, Duke university shows clearly that even surgical and cloth masks work to reduce transmission in schools. I have personally heard Dr. Benjamin speak about this study which shows that secondary spread rate of just 1% and he contrasted that with data out of Israel that showed secondary spread rates at 15 %. The study is titled ” The ABC Science Collaborative”.
I am just clarifying that when I wrote (comment #4) that Dr. Benjamin contrasted the data out of US with data out of Israel. He was referring specifically to data from the schools there that did not wear masks. Those schools has 15 times the amount of secondary transmission.
10% is nothing. That’s why. And besides you have a study that shows that the mask does something?? I don’t think there is such a study
There have been many studies all of which contradict this study.
Why post this one study which has been contradicted so many times is irrational and damaging.
Is the editor of this site an anti-masker? It would seem so, otherwise there is no justification for posting this nonsense.
Even according to this study, it says that there’s no question that any face covering is better then nothing. That being said it could be that it would be better if the government starts requiring the better masks.
Many good comments here.
I agree. Why cherry-pick this study over the many others that show the opposite.
Also, remember, the health guidelines have always stipulated that masking must be combined with social distancing to prevent spread.
And I also wish people would stop talking about the danger to kids (both physical and emotional) when we require them to mask. I think this is a bunch of hogwash. Kids are incredibly resilient and adapt easily, but they do parrot what they hear from their parents. So when parents and teacher speak badly about masking , the kids pick it up and don’t comply. If we would act as educators and be mechanech them to be respectful of other people’s well-being by masking, the kids would comply. This only becomes an issue because parents make it an issue.
There have been very little proven studies that masks do indeed prevent the spread. That’s why there’s been so much division on this. Even Fauci said masks do very little, all you have to do is YouTube his exact words. Once people figure out that Covid is not only the main character in this significant chapter in our lives but also a political tool your eyes will become wide open. The mask has been and always has been used just to make us feel better and a little less stressed. Not to mention used by many as political theatre.
Is someone can actually produce or direct us to a study that actually claims masks do indeed protect us please share