Dated May 21, 2020 in the New England Journal of Medicine:
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.
I already posted this, but reposting here. From the CDC’s website:
In our systematic review, we identified 10 RCTs that reported estimates of the effectiveness of face masks in reducing laboratory-confirmed influenza virus infections in the community from literature published during 1946–July 27, 2018. In pooled analysis, we found no significant reduction in influenza transmission with the use of face masks (RR 0.78, 95% CI 0.51–1.20; I2 = 30%, p = 0.25)
Forcing us to wear masks does nothing to protect public health. It’s true purpose is to condition the public to accept and obey. For the Left, “question authority” (Timothy Leary) has become “do not question authority.” Today’s “emergency” masking orders pave the way for tomorrow’s “emergency” orders for warrantless searches of our homes to confiscate “unauthorized” firearms.
Because masks do nothing to protect pubic health, forcing us to wear masks is coercing us to engage in political speech. It’s really no different than forcing us to wear armbands with swastikas on them.
