Do you know the difference between Masking Facts and Masking Myths? Here at the Shrewd Dudes Podcast, we created a quick and easy reference guide for everyone.
Test your knowledge about masks and see how well you do.
TRUE OR FALSE?
HEALTH ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE CDC AND HEALTH CANADA WOULD NEVER MISLEAD THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF MASKS.
Below: Graph used by the CDC which relied on a complete misrepresentation of a studies findings, a fact they try to hide in the fine print.
FALSE!
Organizations like the CDC and the WHO have repeatedly used faulty science to convince the public to wear masks.
See posts below for some examples of this:
CDC uses a completely bogus study to claim that masks reduce chance of transmission, when the study shows no such thing (the picture above)
Dr. Anthony Fauci, considered the foremost authority on masks, lied to the General Public about masks, demonstrating that he's willing to lie to achieve goals that aren't in line with public health
A study from the New England Journal of Medicine confirms that masking is merely symbolic, something health authorities have consistently been trying to pretend is not a thing after 2020
Even the CDC has admitted that Mask wearing to prevent spread is ineffective
The CDC continued to use a study to promote masking in schools, even though the study had been debunked and disproven
In Canada, here are some examples of health authorities providing little to no evidence to support their mask mandates:
DR. DEENA HINSHAW (ALBERTA'S CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER) REFUSED AND WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE A SOLID EVIDENTIARY BASIS FOR MASK MANDATES
"I sent the letter to Dr. Hinshaw as well as numerous government officials and asked others to send it to their government representatives as well. I received a response from Alberta Health citing some studies which, instead of supporting mandates, made it clear that the mandates have no quality evidence behind them and are likely to be doing more harm than good."
DR. BONNIE HENRY (BC'S CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER) TESTIFIED UNDER OATH IN 2015 THAT MASKS DO NOT PREVENT VIRAL TRANSMISSION AND EVEN SAID ON VIDEO THAT THERE'S NO SCIENTIFIC BASIS FOR THEIR POLICIES
“There is scant scientific evidence concerning asymptomatic transmission, and, also, scant scientific evidence of the use of masks in reducing the transmission of the virus to patients”
DR. KIERAN MOORE (ONTARIO'S CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER) IS RECOMMENDING MASKS EVEN THOUGH HIS GOVERNMENT PUBLISHED A REPORT THAT STATED THAT MASKS COULD ACTUALLY INCREASE THE RISK OF COVID TRANSMISSION
“Mask use by the general public could be associated with a theoretical elevated risk of COVID-19 through… self-contamination,”
"Ontario’s chief medical officer of health is urging people to get vaccinated and wear masks — especially around children under four — as the extraordinary surge in severe viral illnesses that has slammed CHEO and other pediatric hospitals worsens."
Public health officials throughout the Pandemic and even now have demonstrated that they are willing to push policy even when there little to no evidentiary basis for such a policy. You would be wise to be wary and skeptical of their claims.
TRUE OR FALSE?
THE MAJORITY OF THE BEST & MOST HIGH QUALITY STUDIES SUPPORT MASKS TO PREVENT VIRAL TRANSMISSION
FALSE!
The exact opposite is true. Not only do the vast majority of studies prior to 2020 consistently deny the effectiveness of masks on viral transmission, but most of the studies since Covid have demonstrated that masks are not effective at preventing its spread.
Consider this graph for example:
Here is a link to the original PDF if you would like to zoom in and see every detail in this graph (including study names)
The studies on the left conclude that masks are ineffective whereas the studies on the right conclude that they are effective. You'll notice that the pro-mask studies rely almost exclusively on weaker evidence whereas the studies that disprove masks have far more stronger evidence studies. This demonstrates that the masks don't work studies have far more, far better and far stronger evidence (you'll also notice that the pro-mask side had zero meta analyses or systematic reviews in support of masking.
This demonstrates that the pro-mask side relies very heavily on weaker and less conclusive evidence to support their claims for masks.
Also, the Brownstone Institute has done a massive comprehensive analysis of over 150 masks studies and concluded that not only are masks ineffective, but that they are more likely to cause people harm:
Feel free to also read these other summaries of the science regarding masks:
A list and review of the relevant mask studies
A detailed analysis of the mask science and how it developed
A complete review of the Mask Science pre-pandemic
Steve Kirsch - a very highly respected expert in his field - gives a solid overview of the failures of mask science thus far
A very detailed and comprehensive overview of the mask science
The majority of the evidence points to a very weak case for mask wearing. If you would like to view a comprehensive list of the evidence about masking, click here:
So in conclusion, does the majority of the data support masking to prevent Covid (or any other viral) transmission?
TRUE OR FALSE?
THE SCIENCE SINCE 2020 HAS DEMONSTRATED THAT MASKS AND MASK MANDATES HAVE HELPED REDUCE THE SPREAD OF COVID AND OTHER VIRAL SPREAD
FALSE!
The two most high profile Randomized Controlled Trials investigating the effectiveness of masks at reducing transmission of the Covid virus have both demonstrated that masks do not make a difference in Covid transmission:
Danish Study - No difference in masked vs unmasked protection.
Bangladesh Study - Poor methodology and study parameters made the results inconclusive.
Additionally, various reports and studies consistently report that mask mandates were completely ineffective at curbing the spread of Covid. Consider for example this comparison between Hong Kong (which had very aggressive masking) vs New Zealand (which had very sparse masking). https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10571833/Australian-doctor-shares-astonishing-graph-showing-masks-dont-work-against-Covid.html
Also consider these various reports that all conclude that mask mandates made no difference in the spread of Covid
Fee on the NYT analysis on mask mandates
Data shows no according to Bloomberg
City Journal review of the evidence for Mask Mandates
Even the Atlantic, a highly left leaning publisher, believes mask mandates in school's didn't work
Federalist uses graphs to demonstrate why Mask Mandates did not work
TRUE OR FALSE?
IT IS BETTER TO WEAR A MASK THAN TO WEAR NOTHING AT ALL
FALSE!
While it may seem counter-intuitive, wearing a mask is not an asset in public health protection, and it has such a minuscule impact in non-controlled environments that it's virtually useless. Consider the following detailed analysis by various doctors and medical professionals which consistently points out that mask wearing is nothing more than virtue signalling but without results.
MASKS HAVE NEVER BEEN RECOMMENDED TO PREVENT VIRAL TRANSMISSION
"The COVID-19 pandemic is about viral transmission. Surgical and cloth masks do nothing to prevent viral transmission. We should all realize by now that face masks have never been shown to prevent or protect against viral transmission. Which is exactly why they have never been recommended for use during the seasonal flu outbreak, epidemics, or previous pandemics." Dr. Jim Meehan (surgeon)
https://principia-scientific.com/surgeon-destroys-myth-if-masks-dont-work-why-do-surgeons-wear-them/
IMPROPER MASK USE (WHICH IS ALMOST UNIVERSAL) INCREASES YOUR RISK OF CONTRACTING COVID
"“Mask use by the general public could be associated with a theoretical elevated risk of COVID-19 through… self-contamination,” - Public Health Ontario
COMPROMISED OXYGEN LEVELS IMPAIR IMMUNITY OF WEARERS
“The importance of these findings is that a drop in oxygen levels (hypoxia) is associated with an impairment in immunity." - Dr. Russell Blaylock
THE SCIENCE HAS ALWAYS BEEN AGAINST MASK WEARING
"There have been extensive randomized controlled trial (RCT) studies, and meta-analysis reviews of RCT studies, which all show that masks and respirators do not work to prevent respiratory influenza-like illnesses, or respiratory illnesses believed to be transmitted by droplets and aerosol particles." - Denis G. Rancourt Phd
MOST OF THE MASKS WORN BY THE PUBLIC ARE VIRTUALLY USELESS AGAINST COVID
"Studies continue to show that aerosols exhaled by infected individuals can indeed infect others with COVID-19, even if someone is standing more than six feet away."
QUALIFIED EXPERTS IN PPE HAVE SAID THAT MASKS - EVEN THE HIGHEST QUALITY ONES LIKE N95 - ARE NOT EFFECTIVE AT PREVENTING VIRAL TRANSMISSION
"Filter respirator masks, especially N95, surgical and non-medical masks, provide negligible COVID-19 protection... Not only are N95, surgical and non-medical masks useless as protection from COVID-19, but in addition, they also create very real risks and possible serious threats to a wearer’s health." - Chris Shaefer: Mask expert
TRUE OR FALSE?
MASKS ARE BENIGN AND CAUSE NO HARM TO THOSE WHO WEAR THEM
FALSE!
Masks are not benign objects like hats or mittens, they have negative health effects on those who wear them in various degrees, depending on type of mask, duration of wear, and numerous other factors. Consider the following:
MASKS CAUSE SERIOUS RISK TO CHILDREN'S HEALTH
“I believe the real threat right now is what we’re doing to sabotage the mental, emotional and physical health of… our children, whose development is dependent on social interactions, physical contact and facial expressions,” - Dr Joseph Mercola
MASKS SERIOUSLY IMPAIR OXYGEN TO THE WEARER
“Considering our findings, pulse rates of the surgeon’s increase and SpO2 decrease after the first hour.”
"Decreasing oxygen and increasing carbon dioxide in the bloodstream stimulates a compensatory response in the respiratory centers of the brain. These changes in blood gases result in increases in both frequency and depth of breaths. This exposes another risk – if your mask traps some virus you are breathing more hence increasing viral load and exposure."
N95 MASKS COME WITH EXTREMELY SERIOUS ADDITIONAL RISKS
A 2006 study of 212 healthcare workers required to wear the medical-grade N95 face mask found that 37% said the mask gave them headaches, and 32% of those people had headaches more than six times a month. In a newer study at the National University Hospital in Singapore, 81% of medical personnel who wore the N95 mask for 6 hours a day developed headaches. 23% of participants said their headaches included migraine symptoms like nausea and photophobia.
THE LONGER YOU WEAR A MASK THE HIGHER YOUR RISK
“In healthy healthcare workers, FFR did not impose any important physiological burden during 1 hour of use, at realistic clinical work rates, but the FFR dead-space carbon dioxide andoxygen levels were significantly above and below, respectively, the ambient workplace standards, and elevated P(CO2) is a possibility”
MANY MASKS RUN THE RISK OF BREATHING IN VERY TOXIC CHEMICALS AND COMPOUNDS INTO YOUR LUNGS
Emergent reports, albeit nascent and anecdotal but nevertheless vitally important (and will be clarified and defined in time) regarding the manufacture of masks, where, “many of them (face masks) are made of polyester, so you have a microplastic problem…many of the face masks would contain polyester with chlorine compounds…if I have the mask in front of my face, then of course I inhale the microplastic directly and these substances are much more toxic than if you swallow them, as they get directly into the nervous system.”
MASKS CAUSE SERIOUS IMPAIRMENT TO CHILDREN'S DEVELOPMENT
"The report found that there was a 23 per cent drop in scores measuring kids' intelligence quotients since the start of the pandemic. Results showed the early learning composite mean result dropped by a whopping 23 per cent, from a high of just under 100 in 2019, to 77 in 2021."
These are just a few of the many reports outlining the very serious potential harms of masks to the wearers. Keep in mind that the evidence for masks is extraordinarily weak, and thus wearing a mask without any strong evidence to support it - especially considering the very real risks involved in regular use - is not only unwarranted but actually increases harm to public health.
Thank you for reading! I hope you found this helpful in your research on masks. If you want more info, please feel free to visit our masks research page
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