The evidence is fairly questionable on their effectiveness though.
While the evidence appears to indicate a reduction in coronavirus (uncertain for covid-19 specifically) spreading through droplets, that doesn't necessarily mean masks are very effective.
The evidence clearly indicates distancing works.
So here's the situation most people are going to be in. Either you're practicing social distancing and thus are already significantly reducing the spread of covid-19 or you aren't. If you are, then you don't need a mask. While yes, a mask would in theory be more effective if you were practicing social distancing to act as a second fall back. Since you're already reducing the transmission through social distancing, the impact of the mask is going to be minor. It's like wearing a condom when the woman's already on birth control. We could also all wear n95 masks. We could also not go outside. We could also, etc... At this point, it should be a personal choice by the individual not something the government mandates.
The second scenario is someone is not practicing social distancing. The only time people would be not be practicing social distancing is with friends/family, likely in a close quarters setting and likely for a longer period of time. In this scenario a mask helps but due to the nature of these scenarios and a mask's overall relatively small impact, it's only a matter of time until you get infected regardless of the mask. It's kind of like leaving your water-resistance phone in the bathtub for a few hours. Even though it's effective for 10 minutes, after a few hours it'll be water damaged. Given this scenario, masks aren't really that effective.
Then you have the issue of people not using the masks correctly. There is evidence of viruses being found on the outside of masks after people cough. The mask acts as a focal point for the virus to collect. When people readjust their masks by touching the front of the mask, something you can observe nearly every person required to wear a mask for any length of time do, they then run the risk of contamination, likely at a much higher risk than not wearing a mask due to the focal point nature of the front of the mask. This posses a higher risk then not wearing a mask.
When you combine the above with the fact that masks are inconvenient, are hot, cause rashes, reduce people's oxygen intake, reduce effectiveness of communication, increase anxiety and stress levels etc... the case for wearing a mask is pretty small.
The evidence is fairly questionable on their effectiveness though.
While the evidence appears to indicate a reduction in coronavirus (uncertain for covid-19 specifically) spreading through droplets, that doesn't necessarily mean masks are very effective.
The evidence clearly indicates distancing works.
So here's the situation most people are going to be in. Either you're practicing social distancing and thus are already significantly reducing the spread of covid-19 or you aren't. If you are, then you don't need a mask. While yes, a mask would in theory be more effective if you were practicing social distancing to act as a second fall back. Since you're already reducing the transmission through social distancing, the impact of the mask is going to be minor. It's like wearing a condom when the woman's already on birth control. We could also all wear n95 masks. We could also not go outside. We could also, etc... At this point, it should be a personal choice by the individual not something the government mandates.
The second scenario is someone is not practicing social distancing. The only time people would be not be practicing social distancing is with friends/family, likely in a close quarters setting and likely for a longer period of time. In this scenario a mask helps but due to the nature of these scenarios and a mask's overall relatively small impact, it's only a matter of time until you get infected regardless of the mask. It's kind of like leaving your water-resistance phone in the bathtub for a few hours. Even though it's effective for 10 minutes, after a few hours it'll be water damaged. Given this scenario, masks aren't really that effective.
Then you have the issue of people not using the masks correctly. There is evidence of viruses being found on the outside of masks after people cough. The mask acts as a focal point for the virus to collect. When people readjust their masks by touching the front of the mask, something you can observe nearly every person required to wear a mask for any length of time do, they then run the risk of contamination, likely at a much higher risk than not wearing a mask due to the focal point nature of the front of the mask. This posses a higher risk then not wearing a mask.
When you combine the above with the fact that masks are inconvenient, are hot, cause rashes, reduce people's oxygen intake, reduce effectiveness of communication, increase anxiety and stress levels etc... the case for wearing a mask is pretty small.
Not its not faggot. Darwin yourself and catch rona.