Here Is Proof, Proof, That Face Masks...........

[10ClarionSt]

...........are useless. If they do the job they're supposed to, why is there such a big increase in positive tests? Admit it; they don't serve any purpose do they?

https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/

[tomus42]

Exactly NJ. We don't know, but the questioner assumes that he knows they make no difference.

I'm pretty sure that he, you or anyone else with a functioning brain cell would rather that a person with a potentially deadly infectious disease, let's say TB, would rather cough into their face wearing a mask than without one if given the choice.

[THECORBYLOON]

How you getting on with the proof?

I had a look at the Guy's and St Thomas' website to see what all its advice is about wearing face masks. It states,

"When you visit our sites you will be asked to:

put on a face mask if you are not already wearing your own face covering. Masks will be provided when you arrive on site. Please continue to wear a mask if you are less than 2m from another person. For more advice, visit Gov.uk website."

If face coverings are ineffective, why are visitors to hospitals not required to wear the same masks doctors and nurses wear?

[tomus42]

Some people don't like the inconvenience of wearing a mask, so rather than just saying so, they try to claim that masks are pointless.

That is what it boils down to.

[jim360]

NJ: // The biggest risk to a wearer is the way he or she treats the practice and almost all people do not follow best practice. In fact many don’t even follow worst practice. They follow no practice at all. That’s why the results of any studies are flawed. //

Have you actually gone through the various studies in question to see whether/how they accounted for this effect?

[New Judge]

//Have you actually gone through the various studies in question to see whether/how they accounted for this effect?//

I've looked through one of those the WHO cited, Jim and it seems they did not. I cannot be bothered to go through any more because, as much as it is "obvious" that face coverings prevent spread, it is equally obvious that using them incorrectly risks self contamination (in fact I would argue more obvious if I had to). To support my argument, here’s the WHO’s basic advice on face coverings:

- Find a mask that properly fits your face
- Clean your hands before you put your mask on, as well as before and after you take it off, and after you touch it at any time.
- Make sure it covers both your nose, mouth and chin.
- When you take off a mask, store it in a clean plastic bag, and every day either wash it if it’s a fabric mask, or dispose of a medical mask in a trash bin.
- Don’t use masks with valves.

How many people do all of that? I would suggest, from casual observation, fewer than 1%. In fact I have never seen anybody clean their hands before handling a mask. The WHO also offer a handy one hour online course “…intended for health workers, decision-makers, and the public and covers correct mask use for both healthcare and community settings.” How many non-healthcare professionals have done that, do you reckon?

//I'm pretty sure that he, you or anyone else with a functioning brain cell would rather that a person with a potentially deadly infectious disease, let's say TB, would rather cough into their face wearing a mask than without one if given the choice.//

This was raised as a potential hazard many months ago and I will only say what I said then: in my entire life I have never had anybody, disease ridden or healthy, “cough into my face.” Nobody has even come remotely close to it. Quite why I should expect that to happen now is somewhat puzzling and why the entire population is ordered to take measures to mitigate such an event is even more so.

//If face coverings are ineffective, why are visitors to hospitals not required to wear the same masks doctors and nurses wear?//

The medical grade masks that health professionals wear are designed to protect the wearer as much as those around them, Corby. There is no argument that non-medical grade face coverings do not do that. But that aside I believe the mandate was introduced as a “comfort factor” and the emphasis is now switching to that in the run up to the proposed removal of that mandate. Most articles now major on the “confidence”, “comfort” and “reassurance” that some people gain from seeing those around them muzzled up. Well that isn’t what the legislation was introduced for. The government has (provisionally) decided that they are no longer required so they must believe that the risks they may have mitigated against (such that they were) are now manageable. I’m not walking around masked up so as to provide comfort and reassurance to everybody else. If everybody else is all that worried they will have to remain indoors.

[10ClarionSt]

Thanks to everyone for the replies. I appreciate them, All of them.

TCL: whilst that is the advice on St Thomas's website, there is nothing shown in your quote that contradicts what I said earlier.

[THECORBYLOON]

If they are not effective and you say professionals there agree with you, why are they allowing folk to wear them within the hospital?

[davebro]

It's cos we need to be SEEN to be doing summat innit. (even if it doesn't work)

[fiveleaves]

It's a bit Trump's words of wisdom. The reason we have got so many cases is because we test so many people.
How many more positive tests would there be without face masks. Probably going to find out in a few weeks