Masks don't work, buy lying to the public does
Masks don't prevent you from getting a disease

There were 3 influenza pandemics in the 20th century, and there has been 1 so far in the 21st century. Local, national, and international health authorities regularly update their plans for mitigating the next influenza pandemic in light of the latest available evidence on the effectiveness of various control measures in reducing transmission. Here, we review the evidence base on the effectiveness of nonpharmaceutical personal protective measures and environmental hygiene measures in nonhealthcare settings and discuss their potential inclusion in pandemic plans. Although mechanistic studies support the potential effect of hand hygiene or face masks, evidence from 14 randomized controlled trials of these measures did not support a substantial effect on transmission of laboratory-confirmed influenza. We similarly found limited evidence on the effectiveness of improved hygiene and environmental cleaning. We identified several major knowledge gaps requiring further research, most fundamentally an improved characterization of the modes of person-to-person transmission.

We know that wearing a mask outside health care facilities offers little, if any, protection from infection. Public health authorities define a significant exposure to Covid-19 as face-to-face contact within 6 feet with a patient with symptomatic Covid-19 that is sustained for at least a few minutes (and some say more than 10 minutes or even 30 minutes). The chance of catching Covid-19 from a passing interaction in a public space is therefore minimal. In many cases, the desire for widespread masking is a reflexive reaction to anxiety over the pandemic.

This document provides advice on the use of masks in communities, during home care, and in health care settings in areas that have reported cases of COVID-19. It is intended for individuals in the community, public health and infection prevention and control (IPC) professionals, health care managers, health care workers (HCWs), and community health workers. This updated version includes a section on Advice to decision makers on the use of masks for healthy people in community settings

Neither surgical nor cotton masks effectively filtered SARS CoV-2 during coughs by infected patients

Data lacking to recommend broad mask use

We do not recommend requiring the general public who do not have symptoms of COVID-19-like illness to routinely wear cloth or surgical masks because:

• There is no scientific evidence they are effective in reducing the risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission

• Their use may result in those wearing the masks to relax other distancing efforts because they have a sense of protection

• We need to preserve the supply of surgical masks for at-risk healthcare workers.

“WHO only recommends the use of a mask in specific cases. If you have cough, fever, and difficulty breathing, you should wear a mask and seek medical care. If you do not have these symptoms, you do not have to wear masks because there is no evidence that they protect people who are not sick.”

Remember When Fauci Said Masks Might Make You ‘Feel A Little Bit Better,’ But Won’t Stem Spread Of COVID-19?

WHO guidance: Healthy people should wear masks only when 'taking care of' coronavirus patients

With the advent of the so-called COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen a number of medical practices that have little or no scientific support as regards reducing the spread of this infection. One of these measures is the wearing of facial masks, either a surgical-type mask, bandana or N95 respirator mask.

Since the novel coronavirus began spreading rapidly, experts haven't been able to agree on whether masks can offer protection (and for whom), and recommendations have changed over time.But the evidence is still inconclusive. That's because there's a lot we don't know about the novel coronavirus, how it spreads, and how long it can remain in the air and on various surfaces. Here's what we know so far about masks and the coronavirus.

In the UK, Public Health England currently states that face masks are not an effective way to protect against the virus. However, several other countries, including Slovenia and Austria, have demanded that citizens wear face masks. To help clear up the confusion, Dr Ben Killingley, an Infectious Disease Physician at the Whittington Hospital has explained the pros and cons of wearing a face mask.