Daily Derp: Maskless Sociopaths Unite!

Is it me or are we now starting to see some public shaming about masks? /Smells armpits. Yup. The 'we follow the science' and 'I love fucking science' crowd are about to bludgeon us with their sheep-sciencey facts about how we lack empathy.

Or some stupid shit.

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Graphs of countries with mask mandates and rise in infections.

Oops!

I'm watching Quebec. I can just see it now: Cases rise, lockdowns arise!

I can just feel they will panic. Panic has been the main strategy since March.

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Masks don't work and are largely symbolic.

But if you dare challenge it using facts and data, you're a sociopath! 

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Certain strategic closures had an impact, but lockdowns added no additional results in reducing cases.

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There's no basis for quarantine or masks.

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Did we mention masks don't work?

"One thing everyone does agree on is that, whatever containment provided by non-fitted masks do provide, homemade fabric masks are the least effective. The recommendations that everyone wear masks are because "any kind of impediment is better than nothing," Chu said. But fabric masks are not expected to be as protective as surgical masks, she said. That's why public health officials are warning people to remain at least 6 feet apart from one another, even if they are wearing masks. In other words, homemade masks are likely to be just a small piece of the puzzle for controlling the COVID-19 pandemic.

"There's been enough research done to be able to confidently say that masks wouldn't be able to stop the spread of infection, that they would only have a small effect on transmission," Cowling said. "We shouldn't be relying on masks to help us go back to normal."

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Know what masks are good for?

Giving politicians cover and make people feel good. That's it.

Let me restate. Some masks can be effective. No mask justifies mandates.

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What is it with all these sociopath scientists!?

"It is also clear that masks serve symbolic roles. Masks are not only tools, they are also talismans that may help increase health care workers’ perceived sense of safety, well-being, and trust in their hospitals. Although such reactions may not be strictly logical, we are all subject to fear and anxiety, especially during times of crisis. One might argue that fear and anxiety are better countered with data and education than with a marginally beneficial mask, particularly in light of the worldwide mask shortage, but it is difficult to get clinicians to hear this message in the heat of the current crisis. Expanded masking protocols’ greatest contribution may be to reduce the transmission of anxiety, over and above whatever role they may play in reducing transmission of Covid-19. The potential value of universal masking in giving health care workers the confidence to absorb and implement the more foundational infection-prevention practices described above may be its greatest contribution."

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Excuse my Tam outburst. But it's deserved. I think all public officials who if they've got nothing of value to say or good news, should then shut up. They had their 15 minutes.