Re:California’s coronavirus strain looks increasingly dangerous
by timr on Wednesday February 24, 2021 @04:50AM
(#26248319)
> There is no "uncertain marginal effect." The science is in, and it's clear.
Statements like this help no one. "The science" is not a noun. It is not "in". There is a great deal of uncertainty in what we actually know about masks. The article you're claiming is definitive proof admits as much:
"being more definitive about how well they work or when to use them gets complicated. There are many types of mask, worn in a variety of environments. There are questions about people’s willingness to wear them, or wear them properly. Even the question of what kinds of study would provide definitive proof that they work is hard to answer."
Again, please read the Lancet, CEBM and DANMASK links I linked above. You will see that there is a great deal of uncertainty.
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02801-8
As for "politically fraught" - people are forced to wear things called clothes literally every day. Some are forced to wear business suits and other eccentric, uncomfortable, and context-specific attire.
People are also forced to wear seatbelts and act in other ways which show responsibility for public health - for example by not smoking in public areas.
The political point here is that masks - which have now been proven to be helpful - are only considered a 'politically fraught act' by people who want to politicise the Covid response.
For people who are rational about this, there is no issue.
For people who are hostile to public rationality, there is.