Also, the government of Ontario clearly states on their info page about masks: "Masks will not prevent you from catching COVID19, but they may help reduce the spread."
May.
We don't know.
But even if it reduces the spread by say 10%, was it worth it? Did it really have an impact overall? (10% is the max estimated blocking rate of aerosols by cloth masks. Droplets, maybe 50%. But droplets fall to the ground in about 10 minutes, aerosols can stay in the air around 8 hours with poor ventilation.)
They aren't. If you want some research, besides the obvious increase in cases due to seasonality:
https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/do-masks-stop-the-spread-of-covid-19-/
Also, the government of Ontario clearly states on their info page about masks: "Masks will not prevent you from catching COVID19, but they may help reduce the spread."
May.
We don't know.
But even if it reduces the spread by say 10%, was it worth it? Did it really have an impact overall? (10% is the max estimated blocking rate of aerosols by cloth masks. Droplets, maybe 50%. But droplets fall to the ground in about 10 minutes, aerosols can stay in the air around 8 hours with poor ventilation.)
Yes this is the long-awaited DANMASK study that several research journals refused to publish. And a good analysis of it.