Lessons: Masking, Lockdowns & The Next Pandemic

Every time I post about vaccine science, the responses are swift and predictable: “Where was the evidence for the lockdowns and the masks?” The question carries the weight of genuine frustration. For…

Although the Nordic countries experienced relatively low pandemic excess mortality, the impact and timing of excess mortality differed substantially. These estimates-arguably the most accurate available for any region in capturing pandemic-related excess deaths-may inform future research and policy …

Lockdowns were widely adopted worldwide during the COVID 19 pandemic and have been hotly debated ever since. What lessons can be drawn for future pandemics?

Most of the world went into lockdowns in March 2020 response to the Covid-19 pandemic, but what has been the impact in those that didn't impose strict restrictions?

Thus far, regulatory bodies have failed in this duty.

Began March 2020Last Revision: Nov 2023 While it may come as a surprise so some (but not if you follow my social media posts!), both I and my TCM regulated medical professional colleagues in genera…

After studying the origins and actions of several prominent Canadian anti-maskers, we can now offer you the definitive primer to becoming a conspiracy-baiting, immensely annoying influencer.

Conversations and debates about vaccine mandates will continue well into next year as policy-makers balance individual freedom and public well-being.

COVID-19 vaccine mandates have worked extraordinarily well at getting more Canadians vaccinated, but they are increasingly hard to justify — not because of protests or political pressure but because they’re a victim of their own success.

Vaccination policies have shifted dramatically during COVID-19 with the rapid emergence of population-wide vaccine mandates, domestic vaccine passports and differential restrictions based on vaccination status. While these policies have prompted ...

Turning the question of mandatory vaccination into a wedge issue "may rub people the wrong way," warned one bioethicist in an interview with Global News.

The need to do something to control the pandemic may have blinded well-meaning policymakers to the costs of the policy

The first human case of a flu strain similar to a virus circulating in pigs has been reported in the UK. The individual concerned experienced mild illness and fully recovered.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, masks were widely promoted and mandated as a key measure to help reduce the transmission of SARS-CoV-2. These policies were primarily informed by laboratory evidence demonstrating the effectiveness of particle ...

Based on the status of the COVID-19 global pandemic, there is an urgent need to systematically evaluate the effectiveness of wearing masks to protect …

Randomized controlled trials are considered the gold standard when assessing the effectiveness of an intervention. However, this type of study can vary greatly in quality, particularly in complex interventions such as face masks, affecting the reliability of the results. In this context, many scientists consider that randomized controlled trials should…

None.

Experts said a Cochrane review study seemed to imply masks don't work against COVID spread, but it was misinterpreted and was actually looking at mask interventions.

People online are touting the results of a Cochrane review to incorrectly claim that it shows masks “don’t work” against the coronavirus. But the primary conclusion of the review is that it’s uncertain from randomized controlled trials whether mask interventions in the community help slow the spread of respiratory illnesses.

A new study indicates that face masks did not significantly lower Covid-19 infection risk after the initial Omicron wave, highlighting the need for adaptable strategies and further research as risk factors evolve. New findings from the University of East Anglia suggest that wearing face masks did n

This rapid systematic review of evidence asks whether (i) wearing a face mask, (ii) one type of mask over another and (iii) mandatory mask policies can reduce the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 infection, either in community-based or healthcare ...

Coronavirus skeptics are claiming a large-scale review of public health interventions proves that masks are useless against Covid-19. This is misleading; the Cochrane Library's editor-in-chief said these interpretations of the analysis are "inaccurate," and medical experts say other research shows face coverings offer some individual protection.

A new scientific review of the efficacy of masks is deeply flawed. That hasn’t stopped some from touting it

A review of Canada's current post-mandate status, evidence supporting temporary and targeted mask mandates, and critical success factors.

In 2020, with adult ICUs at risk of being overwhelmed, we wore masks and accepted restrictions. Now pediatric intensive care is at risk. Will leaders follow the evidence and tell us to mask up?

The science around the use of masks by the public to impede COVID-19 transmission is advancing rapidly. In this narrative review, we develop an ana...

“People inoculated against Covid-19 are just as likely to spread the delta variant of the virus to contacts in their household as those who haven’t had shots... according to a paper published Thursday in The Lancet Infectious Diseases medical journal.”