Some other authorities disagree:
https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020...-slow-pandemic
"But some health experts, including the director of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, think that’s a mistake. Health authorities in parts of Asia have encouraged all citizens to wear masks in public to prevent the spread of the virus, regardless of whether they have symptoms. And the Czech Republic took the uncommon step last week of making nose and mouth coverings mandatory in public spaces, prompting a grassroots drive to hand make masks."
"...When people do venture out and interact, they’re likely to spew some saliva. “I don’t want to frighten you, but when people speak and breathe and sing—you don’t have to sneeze or cough—these droplets are coming out,” he says.
"...Despite messages from some health officials to the contrary, it’s likely that a mask can help protect a healthy wearer from infection, says Benjamin Cowling, an epidemiologist at the University of Hong Kong. Both surgical masks and the more protective N95 respirators have been shown to prevent various respiratory infections in health care workers;... “It doesn’t make sense to imagine that … surgical masks are really important for health care workers but then not useful at all for the general public,” Cowling says.
"... “I think the average person, if they were taught how to wear a mask properly … would have some protection against infection in the community.”
"... initial evidence suggests people without symptoms may also transmit the coronavirus without knowing they’re infected. Data from contact-tracing efforts—in which researchers monitor the health of people who recently interacted with someone confirmed to have an infection—suggest nearly half of SARS-CoV-2 transmissions occur before the infected person shows symptoms. And some seem to contract and clear the virus without ever feeling sick. “If I knew who was asymptomatic and presymptomatic [for COVID-19], I’d … triage the face masks to those individuals,” Monto says.
"...A key factor pushing health authorities to discourage mask wearing is the limited supply, says Elaine Shuo Feng, an epidemiologist and statistician at the University of Oxford."
[But home made & alternative masks would solve that problem & provide protection to society, reducing the number of infections, seriously ill & dead.]
"The shortage has inspired do-it-yourself movements in many countries to produce cloth masks—which CDC acknowledges can be a last resort for health care workers lacking other protection. Rigorous studies comparing cloth masks to surgical ones or investigating the ideal material for homemade masks are lacking.
Cheng expects masks to become more important in the United States and Europe once the peak of COVID-19 cases passes and social distancing restrictions loosen. “Just imagine you’re traveling in the New York [City] subway on a busy morning. If everyone wears a mask, I’m sure that it would reduce the transmission,” he says..."
https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020...-slow-pandemic
Many Americans don't know how to use condoms correctly. Does that mean they should never use them, never learn & not practice safe sex?
Then make your own at home or buy masks that "health care providers" are not interested in:
"How to make an effective face mask at home"
"...The researchers used regular cotton t-shirts to make no-sew face masks. First, they boiled the cotton for ten minutes in order to sterilize it. Then, they cut the cotton to size and formed a mask using one outer layer and eight inner layers that covered the nose and mouth. The mask could be tied around the wearer's head, to get a snug fit without elastic. Testing showed that this mask "offered substantial protection."
continued at:
https://www.businessinsider.com/how-...at-home-2020-3
I believe any reasonable barrier may help & is significantly better than nothing, from scarves to balaclavas, motorcycle helmets with face shield, Halloween masks, full face hockey masks, etc.
Almost everyone should be able to find some sort of a face shield such as those or something similar.
If they are not effective in preventing COVID-19 infection, then why are health care workers wearing them.
The truth is they are effective in preventing infection. Both studies & common sense say so.
Other experts do recommend them. See above.
Best of luck to all, however you decide to try to be safe during this pandemic.
