Masks Work

The Multiplicative Power of Masks An Explorable Essay on How Masks Can End COVID-19

"By doing the math on masks, we'll see how when 60% of people wear 60% effective masks, disease transmission drops by as much as 60% — roughly what's needed to stop the spread of COVID-19."

Two new Canadian studies demonstrating the efficacy of masks.

These studies show that mandatory masking, esp during periods of high respiratory viruses in the community, can result in reductions in absenteeism, prevent infections and deaths & reduce economic burden. 🧵 1/9

Masks Work. Distorting Science to Dispute the Evidence Doesn’t

New mask studies relying on a medical paradigm do not erase decades of engineering and occupational science that show they work

"Do masks work? Randomized controlled trials are the worst way to answer the question" https://statnews.com/2023/05/02/do-masks-work-rcts-randomized-controlled-trials/ by @dr_kkjetelina et al. via @statnews

"...members of the public need communications that help them follow the science that is worth following. That means responsible reporting, not hyping individual studies that did not, and could not, tell us anything."

New mask thread. Addresses

• Why so much controversy?
• Airborne transmission
• RCTs of masks - strengths/weaknesses, community, healthcare settings
• Meta-analyses - gold standard or lazy lumping?
• Non-RCT evidence - why is it needed, what does it show?
• AOB

The science behind masks and their use Evidence for masks, why they work, which work best, how to use them, and when and where they are most needed.

"The broad consensus of peer-reviewed and published science has been straightforward: masks work. The degree depends on issues like real world compliance, study design, type of masks, and other factors."