So non N95 masks don't really work, then? Do you believe the majority of people out there wear N95 masks?
N95 masks -- when worn properly -- are effective in stopping transmission and reception of the virus. The key words are "when worn properly" --- and I will note that most people working in retail, etc would want to wear a N95 mask all day (properly) which is an uncomfortable experience even for medical professional working in Covid ICUs/ERs. Most people are wearing cloth or surgical masks which are effective in stopping outgoing transmission of Covid.
But you just said it is 15% effective. " Basic (non N95) masks are only 15% effective or so at stopping you from being infected with Covid from incoming particles" I have some questions. 1. How is a cloth mask 15% effective at stopping incoming particles, but far more effective at stopping outgoing particles? Is an outgoing particle considerably larger than an incoming one? 2. When you say mask mandates are effective, do you consider them effective given your 15% efficacy number you just said?
The key words being "are effective in stopping outgoing transmission of Covid." Yes... as noted in many studies surgical and cloth masks are 85% effective in stopping outgoing transmission but only 15% effective at stopping incoming transmission. This is why mask mandates are only effective when everyone is wearing a mask. Because outgoing particles are generally bound in mucus and other larger material upon exhale. There are numerous studies which outline this.
So when people breathe, they breathe out mucus, do they? And particles are trapped in cloth masks and bandanas, and instantly die once they hit that? So they don't get pushed out as air flows out and around the mask? This is your Science™? Is it any wonder why we laugh so much at you?
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/science/science-briefs/masking-science-sars-cov2.html Source Control to Block Exhaled Virus Multi-layer cloth masks block release of exhaled respiratory particles into the environment,3-6 along with any microorganisms associated with these particles.7, 8 Cloth masks not only effectively block most large droplets (i.e., 20-30 microns and larger),9 but they can also block the exhalation of fine droplets and particles (also often referred to as aerosols) smaller than 10 microns3, 5 which increase in number with the volume of speech10-12 and specific types of phonation.13 Multi-layer cloth masks can both block 50-70% of these fine droplets and particles3, 14 and limit the forward spread of those that are not captured.5, 6, 15, 16 Upwards of 80% blockage has been achieved in human experiments,4 with cloth masks in some studies performing on par with surgical masks as barriers for source control.3, 9, 14, 17 In one study, conducted prior to widespread circulation of the Delta variant, masks worked equally well for blocking aerosolized particles containing both “wild-type” virus and the Alpha variant (a more infectious variant).17
This is from the same CDC that said don't use masks because they don't work? and that they had been saying this for decades?
Once again -- the CDC information was from March 2020 while the method of transmission for Covid was still being determined. Science has evolved since that time. While you are at it -- why don't you start quoting policies about yellow fever and malaria from national medical groups from 1890 who believed these diseases were spread by "bad air" rather than mosquitos. Science evolves as new information becomes available -- this is how science works.
LOL is it any wonder we laugh at you denier morons in Florida ? Come on now, should we review the comedy that you claimed during this year ? You know, the part where you said Florida would never have 400-600 Covid related deaths in a week and you topped 400 in a day !!! Yes, masks don't work out as well when idiots like you are walking around without them spreading the disease. Or telling their kids to not wear them a school during a huge outbreak. Fuck your dumb still posting all this shit. Do you also tell your kid they can pack a hand gun to school as long as they 'don't get in trouble' ? Covid Deaths per million : Canada 784, Florida 2890 Didn't catch up liked you claimed we would last year. You missed that one by a country mile. Not that you got much of anything right concerning Covid at any point. The dead aren't coming back and Long Covid is still a thing.