A flat out lie from the leading spokesperson on matters of public health.
All of the hand-wringing about foreign misinformation. But what if the misinformation is coming from within the house?
Seriously though, do you have any evidence that the consensus of the medical profession is that getting the general, non-sick population to wear masks is useful in combating the crisis? I'm open to the possibility that it is, but remain rather skeptical.
It is not the consensus in countries that currently still see an explosion in cases.
This is something I definitely said.
> I don't see any particular reason to trust the opinion section of the Boston Globe over the US Surgeon General or the WHO
You: you think that whatever the official government official says must be true
Do you see the issue here?
Yes:
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6...
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3810906/
https://www.ijidonline.com/article/S1201-9712%2808%2901008-4...
"Wearing a face mask was a protective factor against influenza infection."
"The staff who wore surgical masks and N95 masks were significantly associated with non-infection."
"In compliant users, masks were highly efficacious."
Also common sense. If you wear a mask you reduce the probability that you transmit the virus. And, to a lesser extent, you reduce the probability that you are infected by the virus.
Claiming that "they are not effective" is simply false. Perhaps "lie" is too strong, but it was untrue and irresponsible considering the position he holds.
"Wearing a face mask was a protective factor against influenza infection."
Besides, the other links concern a SARS virus.