Catherine Clase @cmclase@qoto.org

@thejenniwren @Brad_Rosenheim

we will not change fringe opinions but the majority of people in Canada and elsewhere say they support mask mandates if necessary. It requires public health to say it's necessary.

https://beta.ctvnews.ca/national/coronavirus/2022/11/9/1_6144419.amp.html

@Pat I totally agree with your #WearTheBestMaskAvailable approach. Encourage elastomerics, N95s, FFP3s.

But when you say not to wear anything else:

➡️ people without access to these are disempowered

➡️ we downplay the contributions of mask-making volunteer groups early in the pandemic and may even create confusion about whether those early masks worked (they did)

➡️ the absoluteness is not in keeping with the peer-reviewed evidence which we summarize here⬇️

https://maskevidence.org/mask-types

https://maskevidence.org/why-masks-matter

Also it makes it seem like we disagree, which I doubt!

We also curate curated lists of #BetterMasks⬇️

https://maskevidence.org/findingn95s

✨ We would welcome additions to this page from outside North America✨

Thanks for the interest!❤️

@Moira@c.im yes #DoAllTheThings and #WearTheBestMaskAvailable

@thejenniwren @Brad_Rosenheim

Thank you! Totally admirable teaching around this!

We started the website to put the evidence at people's fingertips, so we could say 'there is evidence, it's summarized here':

Filtration evidence: https://maskevidence.org/mask-types

Evidence in practice:
https://maskevidence.org/why-masks-matter

But you are right, people continue to summarize all this as 'no evidence'. Public health could help here with ongoing information campaigns but this is not happening widely.

I think persistence and #kindness will get us there in the end. We are social animals and it is not normal in many countries to wear a mask. The opportunity to normalize this for everyone was lost early in the pandemic because of academic and public health dissent and disagreement. So now it may be a long haul; as you know, behavioural and social change is hard.

Or maybe we will #CleanTheAir instead and masks will be less important.

Did you see this paper on game theory? In their models, either everyone or no-one ends up wearing masks

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/risa.14093 (sorry, paywall)

@nancylwayne Thank you! great to be here!

@neroden Good point, I agree. They aren't front-and-centre in our writing because the up-front costs and the appearance are barriers. Hoping to normalize mask-wearing for as many as possible

@barney6063 thank you so much, very nice to meet you

@auscandoc @nancylwayne I did a lot of lurking and learning before I posted. Maybe a bit over-the-top :) but very much appreciate all the people I've just met.

@mur2501 I have to say it is very civil here! Thanks to all who've boosted and said hello!

@lydiaschoch thank you so much for the warm welcome!

@barevalley@mas.to

I understand many think this. However, from my perspective it is the death, disability, and daily disruption that is unsustainable.

@Miragee thank you!

➡️ I'm seeing a lot of "N95s work and other masks do not"

➡️ Filtration is relative, not absolute

➡️ Summary and infographic ⬇️
https://maskevidence.org/mask-types

⬇️%s are filtration percentages for submicron (less than 1 micron) particles - aerosol data - the relevant size because #CovidIsAirborne

90% N95s without fit testing
70% Level 1 medical with cotton overmask
50% Level 1 medical or well-fitting 2-layer cotton

What does it mean?

➡️ Wear the best mask available

If you have access to N95s or FFP3s with overhead elastic, wear them

Otherwise use what you have: any mask is better than no mask

A certified medical mask with a good-fitting cloth mask over the top to improve the edge seal is a great low-cost combo

Mask braces are a bit uncomfortable but is you are in a high-risk situation (eg health care worker not supplied with routine N95s) they greatly improve the filtration of medical masks

#WearTheBestMaskAvailable

#COVID #BetterMasks #MaskUp #MaskMandates #Masks
#WearAMask #CovidIsNotOver #CovidIsntOver #BetterMasks #MaskUp #DoAllTheThings #ventilation #filtration #PaidSickDays #BringBackMasks #WearAMask #MasksSaveLives #MaskeAuf #MaskUp #MaskMandate #MaskMandateNow #CovidLong #LongCovid