@Pat In fact I just checked, and the data would suggest that mask wearing had virtually no impact on the frequency of new cases.

One would expect, that if enforced mask policies reduced new infections, then 2 days after the mask policy was relaxed the number of cases (which were decreasing) would reduce decreasing, and potentially being to increase, which would worsen up to the 14 day mark at which point we would see a new upward trend, or at least, a change in the trend occuring inside that period.

Yet what we see is the number of cases continued to decrease with absolutely no change in the downward trend for at least 30 days, well beyond the incubation period for the virus.

Therefore, satisfying granger causality, it would seem to be strongly suggestive that masks are not effective at preventing new COVID cases.

@freemo

I'm not saying the recent relaxation of mask guidelines caused all of those. I'm saying all all COVID-19 deaths in the US from the beginning of the pandemic were preventable.

If DT (dumbass) would have quarantined people arriving from Europe (which is where our outbreaks directly originated), if he would have had enough N-100 respirators in the National Strategic Stockpile for everyone and tell everyone to wear them, if he would have told people to stay home and go out when absolutely necessary, if he would have accelerated testing instead of blocking testing, if people would have kept enough food on hand to last a couple of months, and everyone would have actually taken this seriously, then yes all of those deaths could have been prevented.

A lot of people were able to prevent themselves from getting the virus by using common sense. If everyone would have done that, then yes all of those deaths would have been prevented.

@freemo

And yes, cloth masks are not 100%, they only help with source control. Everyone should be wearing N100 respirators.

@Pat N100 repirators or medical masks, if used properly by medical professionals, likely do reduce the spread of infection. Sadly it is, however, speculative as this has not been proven experimentally, but its a reasonable assumption none the less.

Where it breaks down is if the wearing of masks by the general public does the same. I have oft argued that, lacking any evidence to suggest either way, I can see the possiblity that wearing masks by the general public may actually be **speeding up** the rate of infection rather than slowing it down. They are not trained in the proper use of masks and even if they were masks are not intended for long-term use and by using them for any extended period of time may actually be spreading the disease due to people touching and adjusting their mask as well as taking it down to drink.

When I observe thevast majority in public and how the vast majority use their mask I often see it causing them to use them in a way that would be obvious to me that it is spreading germs rather than preventing it.

So for that reason I feel confident, though it is my personal opinion, that masks are likely causing the disease to spread if it is having any effect at all.

@Pat That doesnt line up with your OP.. Your op stated the number of deaths specifically since the mask mandate was relaxed. That would seem to imply ther eis causation there (otherwise why did you pick that date?).

Moreover the date you picked as the reference point was well after DT was out of office anyway. So not sure that was really your intent with the OP.

That said I do believe you feel that way about DT **as well**, no doubt. but seems to be conflating issues and not really what this post reads as.