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Comment by nisa | Hacker News Reader

nobody said masks don't work - the article doesn't contradict the fact that masks don't protect you very good against other infected people next to you. This article just repeats that it's known that masks help to prevent spreading of the disease if you have symptions and need to go outside. At least here in Germany nobody ever spoke out against that.

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Many people spoke out prominently against wearing masks in Germany, including Christian Drosten [1], der Spiegel [2] and Robert Koch Institute.

[1] https://twitter.com/c_drosten/status/1241659738569539584 [2] https://www.spiegel.de/wissenschaft/medizin/corona-krise-die...

Yes, if you read between the lines the statements were often hedged, and not strictly speaking wrong: you should not wear masks (because healthcare workers need them more), masks dont protect (you) from coronavirus, there is no study that shows masks protect against the novel coronavirus (specifically). The general public just reads that you should not wear masks, period.

Some people experienced hostility for wearing masks in public. You can get laughed at or coughed at. Asians wearing masks are avoided like they have the plague. And an old lady sneered at me (no mask) for keeping the required 2m safety distance in the supermarket, as if I was an idiot.

That being said, most people are behaving exemplary and respecting physical distancing, and I hope the attitudes regarding masks will shift with time.

My old lady thanked me for crossing the street as she was proceeding south and me north.

I pumped both fists in the air and exclaimed "we're not dead yet!" and she laughed.

You live in a big city perhaps.

https://twitter.com/surgeon_general/status/12337257852839321...

"Seriously people- STOP BUYING MASKS! They are NOT effective in preventing general public from catching #Coronavirus."

The US Surgeon General, a little over a month ago.

Unfortunately the wayback machine didn't cache the CDC's page on guidelines until recently, but an article in US based Vox from February says:

https://www.vox.com/recode/2020/2/13/21128209/coronavirus-fe...

"Currently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises against people in the US using face masks because most people who aren’t trained medical professionals may not know how to fit them properly, and the risk of exposure in the US is so low to begin with."

If you have the disease and don't have symptoms, you are still infectious, and this is why masks for everyone is one way to combat this virus.

They help prevent spreading when asymptomatic too. One of the key components to Taiwan's success.

WHO said masks don't work

Do you have a link to this statement? I've primarily seen various authorities mention the primacy of hand washing, vs saying masks are ineffective.

Don't know about gp, but here's what who seems to be saying now:

https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2...

Surgeon General https://twitter.com/Surgeon_General/status/12337257852839321...

Here's what the WHO site[1] says:

• If you are healthy, you only need to wear a mask if you are taking care of a person with suspected 2019-nCoV infection.

• Wear a mask if you are coughing or sneezing.

• Masks are effective only when used in combination with frequent hand-cleaning with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water.

• If you wear a mask, then you must know how to use it and dispose of it properly.

Nowhere do I see: "Masks don't work".

[1] https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2...

I think the first point is what most people are talking about when they're saying the WHO said "masks don't work".

"Masks don't work" being short hand for "masks will only help you in these very narrowly defined circumstances."

Even the third point is likely to discourage people from using masks. I find it difficult to believe that people with a mask, even if used poorly, see absolutely no benefit from the mask. The mask's presence on your face should already make you less likely to touch your face. Furthermore, the novel coronavirus is not the only thing to worry about. All of the other illnesses are still abound and will likely make you more susceptible to the novel coronavirus.

Exactly

The sense is that they're telling the general public not to use them, and the general public (and apparently, government figures) got that whiff.

It's a folly that will be remembered and looked back negatively in history. One of many poor decisions by people in power.

Surgeon General also said masks aren't effective:

https://twitter.com/Surgeon_General/status/12337257852839321...

Then you must not have been talking to people. I’ve had to argue with way too many people since January who believe masks don’t work. I don’t know if people here are living in a pro-mask bubble or what, because there are too many people who believe they don’t work.

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