Scientific confirmation: face masks are both useless and dangerous

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Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
24,167
12,764
113
#1
Facemasks In The COVID-19 Era: A Health Hypothesis
Published on March 5, 2021
Written by nih.gov


This crucial new paper from the US National Library of Medicine destroys the common myth that face masks work against COVID19. The conclusion from the study, which appears in the Elsevier Public Health Emergency Collection is “both medical and non-medical facemasks are ineffective to block human-to-human transmission.”

Abstract
Many countries across the globe utilized medical and non-medical facemasks as non-pharmaceutical intervention for reducing the transmission and infectivity of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). Although, scientific evidence supporting facemasks’ efficacy is lacking, adverse physiological, psychological and health effects are established. Is has been hypothesized that facemasks have compromised safety and efficacy profile and should be avoided from use. The current article comprehensively summarizes scientific evidences with respect to wearing facemasks in the COVID-19 era, providing prosper information for public health and decisions making.


Introduction
Facemasks are part of non-pharmaceutical interventions providing some breathing barrier to the mouth and nose that have been utilized for reducing the transmission of respiratory pathogens [1]. Facemasks can be medical and non-medical, where two types of the medical masks primarily used by healthcare workers [1], [2]. The first type is National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)-certified N95 mask, a filtering face-piece respirator, and the second type is a surgical mask [1]. The designed and intended uses of N95 and surgical masks are different in the type of protection they potentially provide.


The N95s are typically composed of electret filter media and seal tightly to the face of the wearer, whereas surgical masks are generally loose fitting and may or may not contain electret-filtering media. The N95s are designed to reduce the wearer’s inhalation exposure to infectious and harmful particles from the environment such as during extermination of insects. In contrast, surgical masks are designed to provide a barrier protection against splash, spittle and other body fluids to spray from the wearer (such as surgeon) to the sterile environment (patient during operation) for reducing the risk of contamination [1].

The third type of facemasks are the non-medical cloth or fabric masks. The non-medical facemasks are made from a variety of woven and non-woven materials such as Polypropylene, Cotton, Polyester, Cellulose, Gauze and Silk. Although non-medical cloth or fabric facemasks are neither a medical device nor personal protective equipment, some standards have been developed by the French Standardization Association (AFNOR Group) to define a minimum performance for filtration and breathability capacity [2]. The current article reviews the scientific evidences with respect to safety and efficacy of wearing facemasks, describing the physiological and psychological effects and the potential long-term consequences on health.

Hypothesis
On January 30, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced a global public health emergency of severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) causing illness of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) [3]. As of October 1, 2020, worldwide 34,166,633 cases were reported and 1,018,876 have died with virus diagnosis. Interestingly, 99% of the detected cases with SARS-CoV-2 are asymptomatic or have mild condition, which contradicts with the virus name (severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2) [4]. Although infection fatality rate (number of death cases divided by number of reported cases) initially seems quite high 0.029 (2.9%) [4], this overestimation related to limited number of COVID-19 tests performed which biases towards higher rates. Given the fact that asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic cases is several times higher than the number of reported cases, the case fatality rate is considerably less than 1% [5]. This was confirmed by the head of National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases from US stating, “the overall clinical consequences of COVID-19 are similar to those of severe seasonal influenza” [5], having a case fatality rate of approximately 0.1% [5], [6], [7], [8].

In addition, data from hospitalized patients with COVID-19 and general public indicate that the majority of deaths were among older and chronically ill individuals, supporting the possibility that the virus may exacerbates existing conditions but rarely causes death by itself [9], [10].
SARS-CoV-2 primarily affects respiratory system and can cause complications such as acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), respiratory failure and death [3], [9]. It is not clear however, what the scientific and clinical basis for wearing facemasks as protective strategy, given the fact that facemasks restrict breathing, causing hypoxemia and hypercapnia and increase the risk for respiratory complications, self-contamination and exacerbation of existing chronic conditions [2], [11], [12], [13], [14].

Of note, hyperoxia or oxygen supplementation (breathing air with high partial O2 pressures that above the sea levels) has been well established as therapeutic and curative practice for variety acute and chronic conditions including respiratory complications [11], [15]. It fact, the current standard of care practice for treating hospitalized patients with COVID-19 is breathing 100% oxygen [16], [17], [18]. Although several countries mandated wearing facemask in health care settings and public areas, scientific evidences are lacking supporting their efficacy for reducing morbidity or mortality associated with infectious or viral diseases [2], [14], [19]. Therefore, it has been hypothesized: 1) the practice of wearing facemasks has compromised safety and efficacy profile, 2) Both medical and non-medical facemasks are ineffective to reduce human-to-human transmission and infectivity of SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19, 3) Wearing facemasks has adverse physiological and psychological effects, 4) Long-term consequences of wearing facemasks on health are detrimental.
 

DavidJo23

New member
Mar 11, 2021
6
2
3
#3
I have read quite authoritative information about use of masks.
There is a myth that masks can cause carbon dioxide build up. Some people have suggested that carbon dioxide from exhaling gets trapped under the cloth and can make you sick. According to the studies of UMMS https://www.umms.org/coronavirus/what-to-know/masks/wearing-mask, this isn't true. Properly fitted masks offer adequate airflow while still covering your nose and mouth. This makes the accumulation of carbon dioxide impossible. However, people with breathing problems, children under age 2, and those who can't remove the mask without assistance should not wear one.
 

GaryA

Truth, Honesty, Love, Courage
Aug 10, 2019
9,003
3,941
113
mywebsite.us
#4
However, people with breathing problems, children under age 2, and those who can't remove the mask without assistance should not wear one.
It can just as easily be said that no one needs to wear a mask because the 'pandemic' is a hoax...

"Just sayin'..."
 
K

kaylagrl

Guest
#5
I have read quite authoritative information about use of masks.
There is a myth that masks can cause carbon dioxide build up. Some people have suggested that carbon dioxide from exhaling gets trapped under the cloth and can make you sick. According to the studies of UMMS https://www.umms.org/coronavirus/what-to-know/masks/wearing-mask, this isn't true. Properly fitted masks offer adequate airflow while still covering your nose and mouth. This makes the accumulation of carbon dioxide impossible. However, people with breathing problems, children under age 2, and those who can't remove the mask without assistance should not wear one.
See here's where I have an issue. They swear masks work. They said that there was no flu this year because people were wearing masks. Then they turned around and told us we weren't doing our part and wearing masks so more people got COVID. Which is it? My sister and her husband tested positive for COVID and stayed locked down for two wks this Christmas. When she went back to donate plasma they told her she never had the virus in the first place.
 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
24,167
12,764
113
#6
I have read quite authoritative information about use of masks.
Today quoting from the University of Maryland is not necessarily reliable. You should be aware that universities and medical professionals have all be POLITICIZED and also compromised by China. The Lancet is a good example. So I do not take that as "authoritative". Take it with a grain of salt.
 

gb9

Senior Member
Jan 18, 2011
11,643
6,276
113
#7
Today quoting from the University of Maryland is not necessarily reliable. You should be aware that universities and medical professionals have all be POLITICIZED and also compromised by China. The Lancet is a good example. So I do not take that as "authoritative". Take it with a grain of salt.

i wish americans would understand what propaganda is......
 

vic1980

Senior Member
Apr 25, 2013
1,653
199
63
44
#10
Rand Paul Challenges Anthony Fauci on Masks, Covid Vaccines in Senate Hearing



The top U.S. infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci, on Thursday challenged Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul (the need for mask mandates for those who have already been infected with or vaccinated against COVID-19.

Jesuit Dr. Fauci agrees we have immunity but the show must go on ...

Original video length is 5:59 minutes