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There have been numerous threads on mask use and the effectiveness (or lack thereof) in preventing the transmission of Covid, but rather than add to an already lengthy thread, I thought I'd start a new one from another reputable source. This article was written with regard to mask wearing by staff in hospitals, but I think it's safe to conclude that if the authors don't think it's particularly necessary for staff to wear a mask in a hospital under certain situations, then they're not likely to think it's necessary for the public to wear masks under similar situations when in public places.
I won't quote the entire article from NEJM because it's rather long, but I invite you to read it. The link is below. Here are some relevant parts.
Quote:
"We know that wearing a mask outside health care facilities offers little, if any, protection from infection. Public health authorities define a significant exposure to Covid-19 as face-to-face contact within 6 feet with a patient with symptomatic Covid-19 that is sustained for at least a few minutes (and some say more than 10 minutes or even 30 minutes). The chance of catching Covid-19 from a passing interaction in a public space is therefore minimal. In many cases, the desire for widespread masking is a reflexive reaction to anxiety over the pandemic.
... A mask alone in this setting will reduce risk only slightly, however, since it does not provide protection from droplets that may enter the eyes or from fomites on the patient or in the environment that providers may pick up on their hands and carry to their mucous membranes (particularly given the concern that mask wearers may have an increased tendency to touch their faces).
...What is clear, however, is that universal masking alone is not a panacea. A mask will not protect providers caring for a patient with active Covid-19 if it’s not accompanied by meticulous hand hygiene, eye protection, gloves, and a gown. A mask alone will not prevent health care workers with early Covid-19 from contaminating their hands and spreading the virus to patients and colleagues. Focusing on universal masking alone may, paradoxically, lead to more transmission of Covid-19 if it diverts attention from implementing more fundamental infection-control measures.
...This article was published on April 1, 2020, at NEJM.org."
By the way, if you don't agree with any of the statements in the article, call the doctors or staff at NEJM and explain to them where they're wrong. I'm sure they would love to have your input.
Friend just had a colonoscopy, and she said nobody was wearing a mask. Not even the nurse that took her vitals, nor the MD doing the procedure. Interesting.
There have been numerous threads on mask use and the effectiveness (or lack thereof) in preventing the transmission of Covid, but rather than add to an already lengthy thread, I thought I'd start a new one from another reputable source. This article was written with regard to mask wearing by staff in hospitals, but I think it's safe to conclude that if the authors don't think it's particularly necessary for staff to wear a mask in a hospital under certain situations, then they're not likely to think it's necessary for the public to wear masks under similar situations when in public places.
I won't quote the entire article from NEJM because it's rather long, but I invite you to read it. The link is below. Here are some relevant parts.
Quote:
"We know that wearing a mask outside health care facilities offers little, if any, protection from infection. Public health authorities define a significant exposure to Covid-19 as face-to-face contact within 6 feet with a patient with symptomatic Covid-19 that is sustained for at least a few minutes (and some say more than 10 minutes or even 30 minutes). The chance of catching Covid-19 from a passing interaction in a public space is therefore minimal. In many cases, the desire for widespread masking is a reflexive reaction to anxiety over the pandemic.
... A mask alone in this setting will reduce risk only slightly, however, since it does not provide protection from droplets that may enter the eyes or from fomites on the patient or in the environment that providers may pick up on their hands and carry to their mucous membranes (particularly given the concern that mask wearers may have an increased tendency to touch their faces).
...What is clear, however, is that universal masking alone is not a panacea. A mask will not protect providers caring for a patient with active Covid-19 if it’s not accompanied by meticulous hand hygiene, eye protection, gloves, and a gown. A mask alone will not prevent health care workers with early Covid-19 from contaminating their hands and spreading the virus to patients and colleagues. Focusing on universal masking alone may, paradoxically, lead to more transmission of Covid-19 if it diverts attention from implementing more fundamental infection-control measures.
...This article was published on April 1, 2020, at NEJM.org."
By the way, if you don't agree with any of the statements in the article, call the doctors or staff at NEJM and explain to them where they're wrong. I'm sure they would love to have your input.
I think we have come a long way since April 2020. Do you have anything more recent from them?
The article that is the premise of this thread topic was written last April at the beginning of the pandemic. Much more is known now and also there are new and very dangerous variants of the virus. A better place to discuss mask wearing is Current Events where there's an entire COVID thread, although they too would probably want up to date information.
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