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D3 said..
But in areas where mask mandates had high levels of compliance, there was significant reduction in community spread. (I'll try hunt down the links to a German study that showed up to 47% reduction in spread and another from Hong Kong that showed 20% reduction) www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2015954117

But that is one or two early studies in two locations. There could be a lot of other factors that occured at the same time that contributed to the reduction in infections, like people simply staying at home away from public spaces once the German police started fining and arresting people for not having a mask..... also note after that study Hong Kong had one of the worst mass outbreaks on the planet despite it's hugely conforming mask wearing population....

If wearing masks was 47% effective we would not be having this discussion because all the studies subsequently undertaken all over the world would support those sorts of numbers. They do not.

The only studies that are now relevent are the ones that assess ALL studies on the issue and come to a conclusion. Cherry picking a few is not really valid.

These days all you have to do it pick cities say in the US (or anywhere else the data is available) with mask mandates and high compliance and those without and look at the infection rates and deaths. There is simply no correllation whatsoever.

The cochrane review copped a lot of flack but most of that was just noise about it being too narrow in some of its assessments. The study authors don't disagree that they could only work with the data they had from other studies, but merely provide the view that that data shows there is no compelling evidence masks work. The best response is a large scale assessment of studies that show they do work, all the objections are simply bleating. No counter science is provided.

That is the key, there is no large scale study showing any sort of effectiveness. People can rage against that all they want but that is the facts.

www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD006207.pub6/full

Masks can make a difference in some very specific, well controlled situations if the wearer is trained and diligent. You are not going to get that in a public setting, especially if you force people to do it.

Masks do not work in stopping the spread of respiratory viruses in the general community. There is simply no evidence to support despite a global wide trial just undertaken.

That said I don't agree with those that disrespect people who do choose to wear them. I personally think if you have symptoms in a close public environment you should wear one. Prior to Covid this was the norm in Japan, if you have a runny nose or worse you wear a mask. I agree with it.

The only exception to that is those that wear them alone in a vehicle. They deserve all the ridicule that can be thrown at them.

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Paradox said..

The only exception to that is those that wear them alone in a vehicle. They deserve all the ridicule that can be thrown at them.

Sometimes people aren't travelling far, so putting a mask on and off or vice versa just takes time.
Or you can be used to having it on your face. That happens to me with reading glasses. I forget I have them on.

I see people often going for jogs with them on.

There was a 1500 metre women college race in the U.S a year or two back where they made all the athletes wear them.

The girl who i think won the race collapsed as she crossed the finishing line - no doubt just a coincidence to many on here.

They played into peoples FEAR that there were bogey man airborne viruses everywhere in the air.

Sadly, many bought into the nonsense.

1 Aug 2021 - Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands and Edinah Jebitok of Kenya trip and fall during their 1,500-meter heat on Monday.

Replay Footage of Jim Ryun's Fall in the 1500 Meter Race at the Munich Olympics. Date. 1972. Description. Clip of Ryun falling in Olympics race.

Suzy Favor Hamilton, a favorite to win the 1500 meters at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, falls in the final sprint to the finish

Race After Race, Teenager Crosses Finish Line, Then Collapses ... was 100 meters away from finishing the 1,500-meter race in the New York

"Why Runners Collapse During or After a Race"
runnersconnect.net/why-runners-collapse-during-or-after-a-race/

References
1. Asplund, C. A.; O'Connor, F. G.; Noakes, T. D., Exercise-associated collapse: an evidence-based review and primer for clinicians. British Journal of Sports Medicine 2011, 45 (14), 1157-1162.
2. Armstrong, L. E.; Epstein, Y.; Greenleaf, J. E.; Haymes, E. M.; Hubbard, R. W.; Roberts, W. O.; Thompson, P. D., Heat and cold illnesses during distance running: ACSM position stand. 1995.
3. Noakes, T. D., Hydration in the marathon: using thirst to gauge safe fluid replacement. Sports Medicine 2007, 37 (4-5), 463-466.
4. Noakes, T. D., Lore of Running. 4th ed.; Human Kinetics: Cape Town, 2001.
5. Corrado, D.; Basso, C.; Pavei, A.; Michieli, P.; Schiavon, M.; Thiene, G., Trends in Sudden Cardiovascular Death in Young Competitive Athletes After Implementation of a Preparticipation Screening Program. Journal of the American Medical Association 2006, 296 (13), 1593-1601.

Couldn't resist.

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Brent in Qld said..


Couldn't resist.

Ahh, but in this case its to keep the onions in.

^^ me and some friends did something very similar in a car a few decades back. Good times, altered states, big smiles.

BTW don't try this at home kiddies, the afore mentioned activity was undertaken by professionals

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Paradox said..

The only exception to that is those that wear them alone in a vehicle. They deserve all the ridicule that can be thrown at them.

Yes!

Maybe I should start using a mask for runnng?

Training masks are facial masks worn to limit the intake of air during breathing. Their ostensible purpose is to strengthen the respiratory musculature by making it work harder. There is some evidence that they may improve endurance capacity (VO2 max) and power output

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Training_masks

www.amazon.com/Phantom-Training-Mask-Medium-Silver/dp/B01MXH8BNB/ref=sr_1_5?crid=1ZO6C09X76U8W&keywords=training+mask&qid=1687625843&refinements=p_36%3A1253557011&rnid=386589011&sprefix=training+mask%2Caps%2C210&sr=8-5

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Brent in Qld said..
^^ me and some friends did something very similar in a car a few decades back. Good times, altered states, big smiles.

BTW don't try this at home kiddies, the afore mentioned activity was undertaken by professionals

Where I come from it was called a compression session, nothing unusual.

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psychojoe said..

Brent in Qld said..
^^ me and some friends did something very similar in a car a few decades back. Good times, altered states, big smiles.

BTW don't try this at home kiddies, the afore mentioned activity was undertaken by professionals

Where I come from it was called a compression session, nothing unusual.

Nice terminology, from what I recall we called it the weekend.

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philn said..
Maybe I should start using a mask for runnng?

Training masks are facial masks worn to limit the intake of air during breathing. Their ostensible purpose is to strengthen the respiratory musculature by making it work harder. There is some evidence that they may improve endurance capacity (VO2 max) and power output

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Training_masks

www.amazon.com/Phantom-Training-Mask-Medium-Silver/dp/B01MXH8BNB/ref=sr_1_5?crid=1ZO6C09X76U8W&keywords=training+mask&qid=1687625843&refinements=p_36%3A1253557011&rnid=386589011&sprefix=training+mask%2Caps%2C210&sr=8-5

We were just told to only open our mouth a small amount to have the same effect. Someone always out to make buck from another unnecessary gimmick.

^^^
That's a great idea, and it has me thinking that I should adjust the brakes on my bike so that they're rubbing just a little to make training harder. And wrap a shopping bag around my fin to improve my sailing.

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Mr Milk said..
^^^
That's a great idea, and it has me thinking that I should adjust the brakes on my bike so that they're rubbing just a little to make training harder. And wrap a shopping bag around my fin to improve my sailing.

Yes! And call it a fin diaper!