Here Is Proof, Proof, That Face Masks...........

[10ClarionSt]

...........are useless. If they do the job they're supposed to, why is there such a big increase in positive tests? Admit it; they don't serve any purpose do they?

https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/

[tomus42]

How do you know that the increase wouldn't be bigger if people didn't wear masks?

[jim360]

It's proof of no such thing, and, as usual, you're misunderstanding both the statistics and the role that masks are expected to play.

What is true, and has never been in dispute, is that face masks *alone* provide only partial protection, and should be considered only a part of a wider package of measures. These have now been relaxed in the UK, which, coupled with the arrival of the more infectious Delta Variant, is responsible for driving the spread of the disease currently, over and above the effects that mask-wearing is capable of controlling.

[jourdain2]

No, of course they don't. Never thought they did. Fortunately I'm exempt. OH drags his crumpled on out of his pocked when necessary.
It's about getting people to comply, power exercise, appease the plebs., whatever you want to call it. I've even abandoned my 'excused mask' lanyard now. Totally pointless, which is why most governments hesitated a long time before imposing them.

[gness]

I doubt you'll take any notice of this, Clarion...and others. Thankfully I won't be anywhere near you.

[THECORBYLOON]

You said the other day,

"I've done a lot of shopping in my local convenience store where the staff have never worn one and none of the shoppers have either, not when I've been in, anyway. They weren't necessary."

If others elsewhere are behaving in a similar manner, could that be a possible reason for the increase?

[gness]

Appease the plebs? Dear god!

Dragging a crumpled one out of a pocket? Well that is disgusting and lazy.

[10ClarionSt]

As usual jim, you're right aren't you? It's got to be others reading the figures differently to you and getting it wrong, eh jim? Because you say so. Facemasks have done nothing and are ineffective. As far as I can see, there is no clarifying statement on the govt website about how jim interprets the figures.

[Mozz71]

That isn't proof 10CS. It would only be proof if you had stats of how thing would be without masks. The epitome of fake news.

[jim360]

Also, a more significant factor in the early refusal to recommend mask use was that the more effective N95 masks were in short supply, and clearly needed to be diverted to frontline medical staff. Any disruption to that supply would likely have been disastrous. Since the supply problems have been eased, and since we have a better understanding of the relative effectiveness of simpler masks, the recommendations have changed.

One particular problem, that I can only assume is driving the distrust of their effectiveness, is that cloth masks block around 70% of small particles, compared to approximately 99.6% for the more sophisticated masks. There is no dispute, then, which is better, but 70% protection is still significantly more than 0%.

[jim360]

The difference is that I'm not just looking at the figures you are providing, but also relying on sources as widespread as the WHO, CDC, BMJ, and other medical authorities, all of whom recommend mask-wearing, and all of whom agree that the claim that masks are "useless" is unsupported by evidence.

See, for example: https://www.bmj.com/content/372/bmj.n432

[10ClarionSt]

And of course, gness, everyone goes round doing that don't they? Spitting into the air. Another frightener from the "just in case" brigade.

[gness]

That tells us all about your observational skills, Clarion.

[10ClarionSt]

Thanks jim. I know medical professionals who say that the common facemask might, just might, have a minimal effect for about 20 minutes. These people work at St Thomas', London. But then again, they didn't ask you first did they?

[jim360]

I'd also like to point out one thing, that clearly goes missing. I'm just the messenger. This isn't *my* interpretation. I don't own it. I am not claiming that *I* am right. I am claiming only that the medical experts, whose opinion I am reporting as accurately as possible, are right. There is a significant distinction.

[Zacs-Master]

Once again you demonstrate your ignorance on any given subject.

[THECORBYLOON]

What is your proof exactly?

[sunny-dave]

God preserve me from the innumerate - absolute nothing in the link provided in the OP has anything to do with the wearing (or not) of masks.

It makes about as much sense to say that the increase in cases means that vaccination has been ineffective - or is that where we're going next?

[10ClarionSt]

It says more about you than me, gness. Have you ever been near anyone doing that? Have you? It's gross exaggeration and scaremongering. And you're falling for it.

[THECORBYLOON]

What positions do these professionals at St Thomas' hold?

[THECORBYLOON]

Any proof yet?