If you are wearing a homemade fabric face mask or a surgical mask because you think it is protecting you or others from Covid-19, I encourage you listen to Dr. Michael Osterholm’s Covid-19 podcast.
In it, he explains the results of a study he completed that tested the efficacy of fabric face masks, surgical masks and N95 Respirator masks against airborne viruses.
You aren’t going to like it.
Here’s what I learned:
- Covid-19 is an aerosol transmitted virus. This means it can be spread by extremely small particles of virus in the air that are exhaled out through normal breathing, then “float” suspended in microscopic particles that can be inhaled by anyone.
- These particles are so small, that only a properly fitted N95 mask can protect someone from inhaling the particles.
- A surgical mask has gaps around its edges. These gaps are how you breathe through this mask. The gaps are huge compared to the virus particles and will offer no protection from inhaling or exhaling them.
- The fibers in a fabric face mask allow air to be inhaled/exhaled directly through the fabric. Along with this air will come virus particles. They offer no protection whatever.
Osterholm says that N95s will continue to be in short supply globally and that the public should not buy them. We should let our healthcare providers purchase whatever is available because they truly need the protection to use when caring for hospitalized Covid-19 patients.
I can’t find fault with any of Osterholm’s information. My own experience with surgical masks and cloth masks is that they filter a limited amount of large dust particles. I’ve used them when blowing lint from commercial dryers, sanding cabinets, mowing the lawn during pollen season and messing around with drywall. But even some of these large particles get into my nose and mouth.
About half the people I speak to believe that wearing any kind of face mask will protect them from “getting infected”. Nearly 100% of the people I speak to believe wearing a face mask is a “moral obligation” that will prevent possibly infecting another person.
Well, I’m calling bullshit.
It is Kabuki Theater.
We are being told to wear face masks because it makes us “feel” like we are doing something productive.
But they don’t work.
So why are so many public officials recommending or mandating them? Why are so many members of society wearing them voluntarily?
Why isn’t anyone looking at the science?
Because we prefer to pretend we have control.
But we don’t.
We don’t control nature. We don’t control viruses. We cannot control disease. We certainly cannot control death.
Osterholm expects we will either reach herd immunity after 60% of the population gets infected and recovers or when we develop an effective vaccine.
He estimates the absolute earliest vaccine would take 16 months. He also said we might never develop an effective vaccine.
The majority of us are going to get Covid-19. Some will be asymptomatic. Many will have mild symptoms. Some will have severe symptoms. Some will be hospitalized. Some will need ventilators. Some will die.
We can’t stay locked down indefinitely. We are social animals. Even in the face of fear, people are fed up with lock
Wearing masks is not going to protect us.
So it’s time to face reality.
Without face masks.