Masks Save Lives–Says the State
MASKS SAVE LIVES–SAYS THE STATE
I went to the TD bank to open a savings account without wearing a face mask. The bank manager asked me if I had one. “No,” I replied. The manager went to a closet and got a brand new mask in a sealed cellophane envelope, and politely asked me to put it on. Before putting it on, I read the back of the cellophane envelope in which the mask was enclosed: It said in large print: These masks do not prevent viral respiratory infections.
"Have you read this?" I asked and handed it back to him.
He read the disclaimer, his face turned red, and he laughed an embarrassed laugh and said “you have to wear a mask because it’s State law."
“But they don’t do anything.”
“Doesn’t matter.”
I put the mask on, sort of (not covering my nose).
Orwell would have laughed or cried.
There is another disclaimer on the box of N95 respirator masks that I have at home that states: ”These masks do not prevent viral infections.” The box of masks with the disclaimer was posted on Facebook (not by me). Facebook removed the image without explanation, (perhaps at the State’s request.) They would later explain that they censored the post because citizens might “misinterpret” it. The State was “protecting” us, from misleading information.
Later, I found a warning printed on the 3M brand medical mask that I possess: “THIS RESPIRATOR HELPS PROTECT AGAINST CERTAIN PARTICLES. MISUSE MAY RESULT IN SICKNESS OR DEATH.” Huh??? Certain particles? Sickness OR DEATH????
And then there is the explanation of the State that goes something like this: “If masks don’t work, then why do surgeons wear them?” Turns out surgeons wear them to prevent mucous or saliva from dripping onto the patient during surgery, not to protect themselves against Covid or any other viral disease. Click Here to read the opinion of a surgeon who has performed more than 10.000 operations.[i]
Among other things he writes, “The failure of the scientific literature to support medical masks for influenza and all other viruses, is also why Fauci, the US Surgeon General, the CDC, WHO, and pretty much every infectious disease expert stated that wearing masks won't prevent transmission of SARS CoV-2. Although the public health ‘authorities’ flipped, flopped, and later changed their recommendations, the science did not change, nor did new science appear that supported the wearing of masks in public. In fact, the most recent systemic analysis once again confirms that masks are ineffective in preventing the transmission of viruses like Covid-19.”
So why would the State force us to wear a device when science has proved it does not work? Certainly there must be some reason, right? I repeat–there must be some reason. I mean, we have to assume that the State means well, don’t we?
So I plead with you. There’s got to be one randomized control study out there that shows that masks are good for something mustn’t there be? Otherwise why would the State pass laws forcing healthy people wear them? Such a study would show why the State won’t permit us to harbor thoughts about the efficacy of wearing masks. If there is a legit randomized-control study in any scientific/medical journal that affirms the position/goodness/righteousness of the State, please send it to me. Post the link in the comments. I would help me feel so much better about wearing a mask; it would even help me accept the inevitable collateral damage.
It would help me prove that we are not living an Orwellian nightmare.
Below I list peer-reviewed articles in the scientific literature dating from 2009 to 2020 that prove that Masks do not protect against corona, SARS, influenza or the common cold or any other viruses. Please read them. Admittedly they are professional journals not written for the layman. But anyone can read the Abstract (summary). If you are a physician or a scientist or just a person who is interested in science and find ANYTHING irregular about any of the articles, please let me know.
Thanks.
Jacobs, J. L. et al. (2009) “Use of surgical face masks to reduce the incidence of the common cold among health care workers in Japan: A randomized controlled trial,” American Journal of Infection Control, Volume 37, Issue 5, 417 – 419. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19216002.
N95-masked health-care workers were significantly more likely to experience headaches. Face mask use was not demonstrated to provide benefit in terms of cold symptoms or getting colds.
Cowling, B. et al. (2010) “Face masks to prevent transmission of influenza virus: A systematic review,” Epidemiology and Infection, 138(4), 449-456. https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/epidemiology-and-infection/article/face-masks-to-prevent-transmission-of-influenza-virus-a-systematic- review/64D368496EBDE0AFCC6639CCC9D8BC05 .
None of the studies reviewed showed a benefit from wearing a mask in either health care workers or community members in households.
bin-Reza et al. (2012) “The use of masks and respirators to prevent transmission of influenza: a systematic review of the scientific evidence,” Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses 6(4), 257–267. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/j.1750-2659.2011.00307.x
Seventeen eligible studies were examined. None of the studies established a conclusive relationship between mask/respirator use and protection against influenza infection.”
Smith, J.D. et al. (2016) “Effectiveness of N95 respirators versus surgical masks in protecting health care workers from acute respiratory infection: a systematic review and meta-analysis,” CMAJ Mar 2016 https://www.cmaj.ca/content/188/8/567 .
Six critical studies were identified. No significant difference between N95 respirators and surgical masks in associated risk of (a) laboratory-confirmed respiratory infection, (b) influenza-like illness, or (c) reported work-place absenteeism.
Offeddu, V. et al. (2017) “Effectiveness of Masks and Respirators Against Respiratory Infections in Healthcare Workers: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis,” Clinical Infectious Diseases, Volume 65, Issue 11, 1 December 2017, Pages 1934–1942, https://academic.oup.com/cid/article/65/11/1934/4068747 .
Evidence of a protective effect of masks or respirators against verified respiratory infection (VRI) was not statistically significant.
Radonovich, L.J. et al. (2019) “N95 Respirators vs. Medical Masks for Preventing Influenza Among Health Care Personnel: A Randomized Clinical Trial,” JAMA. 2019; 322(9): 824–833. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2749214 .
Among 2862 randomized participants, 2371 completed the study. Among outpatient health care personnel, N95 respirators vs medical masks as worn by participants in this trial resulted in no significant difference in the incidence of laboratory-confirmed influenza.
Long, Y. et al. (2020) “Effectiveness of N95 respirators versus surgical masks against influenza: A systematic review and meta-analysis,” J Evid Based Med. 2020; 1- 9. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jebm.12381 .
A total of six randomized control studies involving 9,171 participants were included. There were no statistically significant differences in preventing laboratory-confirmed influenza, laboratory-confirmed respiratory viral infections, laboratory-confirmed respiratory infection, and influenza-like illness using N95 respirators and surgical masks.
