Dash119 I removed that post as it was an insufficient answer, sorry.
Can I ask which part of the following isn't clear :-
a) You can have the virus and be contagious without showing any symptoms
b) The virus is transmitted primarily via droplets in the air. People argue about how far, but no one argues that it isn't airborne
c) Wearing a mask whether or not you have symptoms (see 'a' above), massively reduces the amount of contaminated droplets in the air
d) As a result contamination is significantly reduced, reducing the spread
Re your comment 'In the mean time you are breathing your own exhaust gasses.'
If you have the virus it doesn't matter if you are breathing your own gasses, because you already have the virus. However if you have the virus, then wearing a mask significantly reduces the chances of you spreading the virus to others.
Remember the UK numbers are massively down from the peak and if you have a better reason for this fall then I would like to hear it, because it wasn't luck.
Okay, against better judgement I'll answer this one as it was the post I reacted upon:
a) There are indications that this seems to be the case indeed. But it still seems rare.
edit People seem to hang up on this argument. But it's not important. I'm merely addressing the points made in the quoted post but it does not have a whole lot to do with the effectiveness of masks. I should have omitted this here, but now I leave it as otherwise later posts here would be out of context.
b) although it seems counter intuitive, it's not yet been scientifically proven that droplets play a significant role in spreading, also the role of aerosols are not totally clear. That it's airborne is clear, but the mechanisms doesn't seem as simple as people like to perceive.
c) here again, scientific proof is very thin. There are as many studies proving that there is as much or more virus particles outside of the mask than inside. Coughing makes turbulence, the insufficient amateur masks we wear will let the turbulent air out through both the sides and through the pores it has itself. Unlike what everybody believes, you are usually not infected by the direct blast, but by virus particles flowing in the air, hence a good ventilation system is way more effective than any mask will be. Even the distancing is questionable, although hugging an infected person will not be a good idea of course. We see dentists having on average a higher degree of resistance against upper-respiratory pathogens, even while wearing masks, which indicates that the mask does not prevent infection by said pathogens.
d) Except for, for instance Spain. They made wearing masks compulsory when they were hit hard in the first wave. So everybody wears them, but still the second wave is raging through the country. Masks don't seem to significantly slow down the pandemic in any way. In the Netherlands we did not have the rule to wear masks and the proceedings of the pandemic followed roughly the same pattern as that of the more strict countries. Research institutes like IZA in Germany have confirmed this, the introduction of masks did not significantly effect the spreading of the viruses.
But lets talk about the down sides of wearing a mask:
a) When you breathe in, air will flow in from the side, carrying virus particles. The mask creates an enclosed environment in which the virus concentration will be higher than outside the mask (remember ventilation?). The chances are that you're even more likely to contract an infection than without a mask. Admittedly this is not proven, but neither is the positive influence of masks, it shows you how unfounded all claims are.
b) Breathing through a mask over a longer time takes more energy. This energy is lost for other metabolic processes like the immune system.
c) Cheap masks, like bought from China contain plastics and microfibers, which can damage the mucociliary and lun epithelium, which will enhance the vulnerability for pathogens. Apart from that they can contain particles enhancing the risk of cancer in the long run.
d) Even the WHO says, by breathing through a mouth mask of any quality, the O2 content of the air you breath is lowered. risking fainting or other problems. This especially if you do any exertion
e) above makes already vulnerable people even more vulnerable when wearing masks.
f) the high mask consumption results in an upsurge of plastic waste with all the environmental problems associated with it
I know I'm going against the common consensus that the internet seems to have. I also know that none of this will convince you. If it's any worth, I'm a trained microbiologist with 15 years of practice under his belt. Doesn't make me an expert, though. You guys can shoot at me now if you want.
