"We know that wearing a mask outside health care facilities offers little, if any, protection from infection."
That's the opener in this weeks NEJM article. This has always been true. (Listen to Laurie Garrett back in February who has been in dozens of disease zones).
What exposure does it take to get sick?
"Public health authorities define a significant exposure to Covid-19 as face-to-face contact within 6 feet with a patient with symptomatic Covid-19 that is sustained for at least a few minutes (and some say more than 10 minutes or even 30 minutes). The chance of catching Covid-19 from a passing interaction in a public space is therefore minimal. In many cases, the desire for widespread masking is a reflexive reaction to anxiety over the pandemic."Note the word "anxiety". Masks play a useful symbolic role:
It is also clear that masks serve symbolic roles. Masks are not only tools, they are also talismans that may help increase health care workers’ perceived sense of safety, well-being, and trust in their hospitals. Although such reactions may not be strictly logical, we are all subject to fear and anxiety, especially during times of crisis.Some people hate and hassle you if you won't wear a mask in even the safest settings. "Because Science". Saying "science" doesn't repair delusion.
Pretty funny exposition of Mask vs No-Mask right here. "I didn't know sheep could speak English" "I'm not going to wear a face diaper" and so on.
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