Why Do We Waste Money On Science...

[Atheist]

...when AB has the finest brains in the world who have all the simple answers to such issues as climate change at their fingertips?

[jim360]

Like I said (see the links), your view ignores the change in evidence based on studies in around April-July 2020. You can go on about social media pressure all you like, but there were also fresh studies indicating an effect.

Also, the messaging *was* confused, even if you don't remember it that way; and not just on mask-wearing, either. You might remember scientists advising avoidance of personal contact through, eg, handshakes -- a message that Johnson delivered but promptly boasted of ignoring, perhaps preferring to project confidence (that was almost tragically misplaced in his case). No, the messaging was mixed. There was also a fear that improper wearing of masks would cause more harm than good. I don't think the problem of people not wearing masks properly has gone away, but it's since been judged that some people wearing masks badly is better than no people wearing masks at all.

Incidentally, it would be odd indeed to rule out mask-wearing based on past pandemics -- it was, for example, a common strategy during the 1918-1919 flu outbreak.

[jim360]

It's not "no effect", but it's obvious that N95 surgical masks are *more* effective than cloth masks.

In any case, nobody was advocating mask-wearing at any point, even now, as the sole necessary measure. Mask-wearing in conjunction with social distancing, proper hand hygiene, staying at home if you think you are infected, etc. It's part of a package, not a silver bullet.

[Peter Pedant]

// The number of AB armchair experts on Covid is astonishing; why the Government aren’t consulting these oracles is a disgrace. - Babies have been dying !

I was surprised at mask wearing since the evidence ( nerdtag or whomever ) that they dont work has been known in operating theatres for at least 50y

The evidence that a fastidious virus could survive on cold wet surfaces was NOT identified as unhelpful for a year or so - it could but it wasnt important. anyway it is fastidious and not resistant

The evidene ( real life evidence) that there was no transmission in bright dry sunlight was not realised long after lacks of peaks with crowding outside were identified but not heeded. Have you ever tried to kill a wasp with fly spray outside?

ut the other sbide of the coin is
AB has its share of crazy rabid insane anti vaxxers
Antivaxxers who make sure that their family is protected - on the completely reasonable grounds that if they dont, then they might die
and a rump of - diehards haw haw haw maintaining Flu = covid

so how do the Great and Good who run the country for us and their pals - tell which one is kosher ( am I allowed to say that?)

Thank god no one understands this