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[-] Aesculapius@kbin.social 78 points 1 year ago

Physician here. Masks absolutely reduce transmission and the chance of contracting COVID.

Here is the definitive study on the subject.

Here is a video of a presentation by one of the authors along with some demonstrations and explanations.

TLDR: Here is the Abstract:
There is ample evidence that masking and social distancing are effective in reducing severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) transmission. However, due to the complexity of airborne disease transmission, it is difficult to quantify their effectiveness, especially in the case of one-to-one exposure. Here, we introduce the concept of an upper bound for one-to-one exposure to infectious human respiratory particles and apply it to SARS-CoV-2. To calculate exposure and infection risk, we use a comprehensive database on respiratory particle size distribution; exhalation flow physics; leakage from face masks of various types and fits measured on human subjects; consideration of ambient particle shrinkage due to evaporation; and rehydration, inhalability, and deposition in the susceptible airways. We find, for a typical SARS-CoV-2 viral load and infectious dose, that social distancing alone, even at 3.0 m between two speaking individuals, leads to an upper bound of 90% for risk of infection after a few minutes. If only the susceptible wears a face mask with infectious speaking at a distance of 1.5 m, the upper bound drops very significantly; that is, with a surgical mask, the upper bound reaches 90% after 30 min, and, with an FFP2 mask, it remains at about 20% even after 1 h. When both wear a surgical mask, while the infectious is speaking, the very conservative upper bound remains below 30% after 1 h, but, when both wear a well-fitting FFP2 mask, it is 0.4%. We conclude that wearing appropriate masks in the community provides excellent protection for others and oneself, and makes social distancing less important.

[-] scarabic@lemmy.world 64 points 1 year ago

reduce

Sadly, a huge portion of the American public don’t have this word in their vocabulary. Masks and vaccines either eliminate all risk, and “work” or don’t completely eliminate all risk and therefore “don’t work.”

This lower ape thinking inflicted so much unnecessary death and suffering here.

[-] evatronic@lemm.ee 35 points 1 year ago

It's an intentional thing, pushed by propagandists. Thinking in absolutes reduces the need for critical thinking skills as whole. When you can make people boil everything in the world down to a binary, its very easy to tell them how to think, and equally easy to define the "out" group you all hate.

To wit, when masks "work or don't work", you can look at the people telling you to wear masks, and because masks "don't work" they're wrong, and if they're wrong, then the people we aren't telling you to wear a mask are right. You should always follow people who are right... right?

[-] scarabic@lemmy.world 12 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

There are definitely people who pushed this thinking and benefitted from it. But it takes root because it has essential appeal. The brain is an expensive organ and people go out of their way to eliminate complex thought, because it’s hard work. Humans instinctively look to other humans because that provides a shortcut: why spend those 200 calories figuring something out when your neighbor already has and you’d just be reinventing the wheel.

I think something like 30% of the US have an IQ below 80. This is a very real issue with the public itself. It is preyed upon, but it isn’t totally imposed by a shadow conspiracy. It’s the way people are.

[-] jandar_fett@lemmy.world -1 points 1 year ago

Was following you until you brought up IQ. IQ tests were invented by racists to do racism. I.e., the tests were geared towards white people purposely to skew results when POC took them. Look up the history. It is equal parts horrible and fascinating.

[-] scarabic@lemmy.world 6 points 1 year ago

I just learned all about the IQ test from Veritassium, a source I trust.

https://youtu.be/FkKPsLxgpuY

There’s definitely more to it now than racism. I recommend watching the video. Not to deny what you are saying as history but if you are still entirely dismissing the IQ test because it’s racist, then you don’t know what’s in it.

[-] jampacked@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

Make one that black people will do better on to test the theory.

[-] ForestOrca@kbin.social 21 points 1 year ago

TY! Also a physician. So tired of this discussion. Everyone is masked in my clinic. Anecdotal, and my partner and I are still covid free, and hope to continue. Masking, distancing, hand washing, and isolation when sick, these simple, time tested, behavioral changes can significantly reduce risk of infection.

⭐ <-- my lemmy gold for you, excellent writeup

this post was submitted on 17 Aug 2023
646 points (92.1% liked)

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