A recent study in the CDC’s own open source journal showed that face masks don’t stop the spread of influenza. At about 0.1 micron in size, COVID-19 and influenza viruses are similar in size (reference below). And if most face masks being used by the populace won’t protect against influenza, they won’t protect against COVID-19. So why are some states requiring masks and some stores, such as Costco jumping on board?
We did not find evidence that surgical-type face masks are effective in reducing laboratory-confirmed influenza transmission, either when worn by infected persons (source control) or by persons in the general community to reduce their susceptibility
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/26/5/19-0994_article
Only fitted respirator masks like N95 or P2 types have been shown to filter viruses. But:
…respirators, such as N95 and P2 masks, work best when they are fit-tested, and these masks will be in limited supply… These specialist devices should be reserved for use in healthcare settings or in special subpopulations such as immunocompromised persons in the community, first responders, and those performing other critical community functions, as supplies permit.
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/26/5/19-0994_article
Do we really need to look at the science to realize that face masks don’t work to prevent infectious disease spread? If you pay attention to those around you wearing masks, it’s obvious that even if they worked, most people aren’t using them properly.
People wear masks over only their mouth, they touch them with their fingers, they adjust them, they pull them down, without washing hands or changing gloves in between. And what if someone is reusing a single use mask? What about people not washing their cloth mask after the last use? What about unwashed masks being worn inside out?
This is where a policy like Costco’s of requiring masks to enter is absurd. It serves no purpose, other than looking like they are doing something. A store or restaurant has never even required their customers to wash their hands after using the restroom. Will restrooms now stock attendants to make sure everyone washes for a full 20 seconds?
Wear them if you want to
But we can not stand for mandates that violate our Rights. And for some, wearing a mask is harmful to health. Which would also be a violation of our rights to require justification as to why it is harmful.
If government or business choose to require masks, it is our duty to peacefully defy such orders.
How most people wear masks:
References
Study on Face Mask Effectiveness from journal published in Emerging Infectious Diseases, is “an open access, peer reviewed journal published monthly by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention”. https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/about
Size of Viruses
COVID-19: New England Journal of Medicine study used electron microscopy to measure: “Diameter varied from about 60 to 140 nm.” Another journal, EJMO, did not provide measure for COVID-19 specifically, but referenced coronaviruses, in general, as 80 to 160 nm. As more specific, the NEJM study would appear more relevant and at an average of 100 nm (also 0.1 micron), this is in line with the range as evidenced by EJMO.
Influenza A: Emerging Infectious Diseases study tested face mask effectiveness in regard to Influenza A, Frontiers in Microbiology published a study that referenced the diameter of Influenza A as 80 to 120 nm, supporting the average of 100 nm (or 0.1 micron).
*1000 nanometers (nm) in 1 micrometer (um) (also referred to as a “micron”)
(Revised 5/11/20 – included links to studies on virus diameters)
