So don't turn this into some weird non-fact-based appeal to emotions. The claim that they are useless is because the evidence does not support them. They ARE useful in clinical settings, and heavily required there.
B) there is no evidence for their success:
1) https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-51205344
"implementing simple hygiene measures" was vastly more effective."
"Although there is a perception that the wearing of facemasks may be beneficial, there is in fact very little evidence of widespread benefit from their use outside of these clinical setting."
"routine surgical masks for the public are not an effective protection against viruses or bacteria carried in the air"
Masks are effective at preventing spread to others, but they're fairly ineffective at preventing spread to the wearer since the virus can get on any exposed skin and make it's way to your mouth (e.g. touching after washing hands) within the 3 hours or so it can survive.
Since we don't know who is contagious, and we don't have enough masks for everyone, they're essentially "useless". They're quite useful for medical professionals because they're more likely to use sufficient caution than the average person, so it makes sense to reduce panic buying for something that likely won't help the average person so more are available for those that really need it.
It's a white lie by the media. If they told the truth to the public then they fear it would deprive hospitals of masks and cause worse outcomes for society.
They're obviously not useless. They do keep spittle down. But every person in public would have to wear them in the off chance they're asymptomatic carriers.
And a virus will still penetrate most masks through the sides where air is mainly being pulled in from. So there is more nuance than just "masks are useless"
I guess you can wear them. But given the choice I'd rather have immunity. And I think we should focus more on that.
Masks decrease R0. You don't need everybody to wear them. You just need enough people to wear them for R0 to fall below 1, combined with all the other measures. It's academic because there aren't enough masks but it's a lesson to learn for a future epidemic. Also it's high time that mask wearing becomes culturally normalised in the West as it is in east Asia.
> You just need enough people to wear them for R0 to fall below 1
This is the point I wanted to make but I went with "everyone" instead of "enough"
For what it's worth, I think you'll find here in the US at least a very pigheaded attitude towards wearing masks. And that includes myself. I just don't want to live in a world where everyone has to wear masks. It's soul crushing.
