> There are no downsides to wearing a mask
this is objectively false. it is generally accepted in the scientific community that wearing masks for an extended period of time is dangerous and leads to respiratory illnesses.
this is objectively false. it is generally accepted in the scientific community that wearing masks for an extended period of time is dangerous and leads to respiratory illnesses.
There's a the question of whether masks can be effective (even without a study, common sense says they are against a respiratory virus) vs. the question of whether they are effective, given actual use.
There's a good argument that idealized use of masks would have been beneficial, but actual use was likely neutral, or even counter productive (caused more unintended harms than prevented infections).
I suspect this is the study being mentioned.
Keep in mind this is at slowing population level spread. On an individual level masking may be different.
The idea is that covid is so contagious in unexposed population that any precautions against spread are futile.