While New England Journal of Medicine  bats against commonsense measures such as wearing masks, is public health suffering?

 

If wearing mask does not hurt you, why are these scientists groups fighting it?  Is perfect becoming the enemy of the good?

 

 

The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) has given a boost to an unsettling idea: that the novel coronavirus can spread through the air—not just through the large droplets emitted in a cough or sneeze. Though current studies aren’t conclusive, “the results of available studies are consistent with aerosolization of virus from normal breathing,” Harvey Fineberg, who heads a standing committee on Emerging Infectious Diseases and 21st Century Health Threats, wrote in a 1 April letter to Kelvin Droegemeier, head of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.

 

According to New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM)- paper on “Universal Masking in Hospitals” -

 

“There are two scenarios in which there may be possible benefits.

The first is during the care of a patient with unrecognized Covid-19.

 

A mask alone in this setting will reduce risk only slightly, however, since it does not provide protection from droplets that may enter the eyes or from fomites on the patient or in the environment that providers may pick up on their hands and carry to their mucous membranes (particularly given the concern that mask wearers may have an increased tendency to touch their faces).”

 

Comment 1-First off no one I know is advocating a “MASK ONLY” approach.

 

Comment 2 -Concerned about droplets going to the eyes- ignores the fact that 2 out of 3 areas are covered ( i.e nose and mouth) . If you touch the face, you are not really touching the face but a mask!!!

BTW Touching your face 16 times an hour without a mask is bad enough for fomite transmission ( from a study titled common sense)

 

Comment 3- Fomite transmission from asymptomatic patients are a problem in a hospital setting??? But Not in a crowded train

in NewYork??

 

“More compelling is the possibility that wearing a mask may reduce the likelihood of transmission from asymptomatic and minimally symptomatic health care workers with COVID-19 to other providers and patients. This concern increases as COVID-19 becomes more widespread in the community”

 

Comment 4- Not widespread spread in the community yet?? - Which community are you living in? Mars???

 

“Transmission from people with asymptomatic infection has been well documented, although it is unclear to what extent such transmission contributes to the overall spread of infection.”

 

Comment 5-If spread from asymptomatic carriers is unknown, then why have lockdowns??

 

“ Expanded masking protocols’ greatest contribution may be to reduce the transmission of anxiety, over and above whatever role they may play in reducing transmission of Covid-19. The potential value of universal masking in giving health care workers the confidence to absorb and implement the more foundational infection-prevention practices described above may be its greatest contribution.”

 

Comment 6- Confidence measure-

Really??? Then why use masks at all? A little pep talk in the morning and keep washing hands should do the trick?

 

Scientists/Doctors need to recognize that this is a crisis and NOT business as usual and make common sense judgement in decisions where there may be no harm and even some marginal good.