Are Outdoor Mask Mandates Still Necessary? | Hacker News Reader

Are Outdoor Mask Mandates Still Necessary?

theatlantic.com

Plenty of studies linked, but never a study to show that masks have any impact. Does a single RCT exist that shows masks in gen. pop. reduce transmission? I know the Danish study showed they didn't for covid. There's also a meta analysis published by CDC in may 2020 that showed across 14 RCTs none found masks effective at reducing flu transmission.

So until we can show masks work under some condition I find it reasonable that no mandate should exist at all.

There are several studies linked at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/science/science-br... that demonstrate otherwise.

I don't see a single RCT among the reference list, maybe I overlooked it?

Case studies, simulations in labs and models do not hold a candle to the findings in an RCT when it comes to trying to understand and predict reality.

I only want to query your last statement: "until we can slow masks work.. I find it reasonable that no mandate should exist at all"

I find myself thinking the reverse to be honest. this infection has caused the largest worldwide distribution event in recent history, (possibly ever). the longer it persists, the greater the cost (economically and socially). As such I'm happy to try all kinds of things if they have a reasonable basis to help with the problem and the cost is reasonable

Granted the definition of "cost" is personal, but equally I'm genuinely surprised by the number of people who feel that mask wearing has a high perceived cost! It really feels like a small inconvenience to me.

If someone popularised the idea that the virus will go away if we only all wear pink trousers for a week. I'm sceptical of the science, but you know what, the personal cost is low. I'll "cooperate" just to ensure we have it a fair try.

masks at least have a very strong theoretical reason to be effective. I'm not really sure I understand the relatively heavy opposition? keen to hear from those who disagree?

I have nothing against wearing masks, I have everything against mandates that haven't been shown to be effective.

There's nothing strong about a theory that already has massive amounts of data disproving said theory.

Personally I think our society pretending masks work has done a great disservice to where we could be if we asked ourselves why they aren't working as intended and figured out if there was something we could change to make masks effective and THEN mandate those effective changes.

I don't believe this is an unreasonable position.

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