PROS AND CONS OF WEARING MASKS
The proprietors of this website are fully aware of the controversies in the USA concerning mask mandates. Below are a series of links to articles discussing both sides of this controversy. Our scientists believe there is plenty of historical and current evidence showing wearing masks during a pandemic caused by a respiratory virus will reduce spread of that virus. There is also enough hard evidence showing negative impacts with constantly wearing masks. The risk reward curve, particularly in children, wearing masks need further study.
The following articles have a subjective score assigned to the paper as well as the conclusion from the paper when available.
Pro with concerns: Pros And Cons Related To Continual Use Of Face Masks (milamhealth.com)
Pro –> Neutral: A novel perspective approach to explore pros and cons of face mask in prevention the spread of SARS-CoV-2 and other pathogens (nih.gov)
Conclusion
COVID-19 outbreak has been appeared globally as a serious public health threat. Even extremely equipped nations are now facing second subsequent wave of this pandemic outbreaks that have obligated for social distancing measures. Application of face mask in the public will be contemplated only as temporary measures for several perceptive groups of people not as a substitute for established precautionary procedures. It is the need of the hour to search alternates that could prove better efficacy than present face mask. Face shield and social distancing could be better substitute of face mask for individual group of people that include COPD, acute and chronic respiratory disease, outdoor exercise, old age, underlying medical conditions and hypercapnia sensitive group but further clinical studies are required to be carried out.
Pro –> Neutral paper: The impact of face masks on children—A mini review (nih.gov)
Conclusion
Information about the influence of commonly used face masks on physiological variables is very limited, especially for children. The few existing studies suggested that surgical and cloth masks did not significantly compromise ventilation and oxygen supplies in healthy individuals and may, therefore, be considered as not harmful. Physical exercise and pre‐existing respiratory problems may cause hypoxaemia and hypercapnia. As using face masks could be a long‐term preventive measure in the COVID‐19 era, further studies are needed, particularly to explore the impact on pre‐existing respiratory problems in children and adults.
Con Paper: Masking: A Careful Review of the Evidence | AIER
Conclusion
In closing, perhaps Yinon Weiss, who is a U.S. military veteran, and who holds a degree in bioengineering from U.C. Berkeley, captures our current face mask calamity by reminding us how masks constrain our return to a more normal life. As outlandish as this might seem could this be the aim of those using the pandemic for the purpose of advancing various political ideologies? Masking drives fear in the population and a perennial sense of ‘illness’ that is crippling. As stated eloquently by Weiss, “Our universal use of unscientific face coverings is therefore closer to medieval superstition than it is to science, but many powerful institutions have too much political capital invested in the mask narrative at this point, so the dogma is perpetuated.”
Our paper sought to examine the complete and most updated mask-related scientific evidence, along with anecdotal data and reports. Our current belief remains that asymptomatic individuals do not drive the pandemic and that the time-tested method of Ignaz Philipp Semmelweis of washing hands remains the best-established mechanism of limiting most microbial infections. People with symptomatic disease should not go into work! Unfortunately, since the economic downturn around 2008, the incidence of ‘presenteeism’ has increased due to the fear of losing one’s job if one does not show up to work, even if ill. This behaviour has to be taken very seriously and must be stopped.
We also agree with the words of Klompas in the NEJM publication: “What is clear, however, is that universal masking alone is not a panacea. A mask will not protect providers caring for a patient with active Covid-19 if it’s not accompanied by meticulous hand hygiene, eye protection, gloves, and a gown. A mask alone will not prevent health care workers with early Covid-19 from contaminating their hands and spreading the virus to patients and colleagues. Focusing on universal masking alone may, paradoxically, lead to more transmission of Covid-19 if it diverts attention from implementing more fundamental infection-control measures.”
In sum, when we look at the science, there is emerging and troubling evidence of harms from mask use in the absence of any benefits. This is also related to things as mundane as simple incorrect use of masking, as well as the development of complacency that emerges due to mask use and thus the relaxation of other mitigation steps, as well as mask contamination.
We also cannot discount the possible harms on our immune systems and general health from such constant and prolonged use of masks, given we have never done this before. We are in uncharted territory and especially so with the possible implications for our children. Their immune systems are still being developed and we are forcing lockdowns, school closures, and masking on a developing child and we have no prior experience on the subsequent outcomes pertaining to children’s development, health, and well-being.
Most discomforting is that those government bureaucrats in charge and particularly the ‘medical experts’ continue to fail to admit they were exceptionally incorrect with regard to most of what they have stated in terms of pandemic policies and response related to the Covid pandemic. They have harmed the very societies they are supposed to help protect. They have failed to look at the evidence or follow it, and continue to operate in an arbitrary nonscientific, nonevidence informed manner. They ‘attack,’ with the assistance of the mass media, those of us who question their policies and actions despite the disastrous outcomes of those public health policies. Indeed, we are often blamed for the failures (called ‘deniers’ or ‘heretics’) and crushing harms of all of their policies when it has actually been their specious, illogical, and unsound actions and recommendations that deserve public outcry.
Pro -> Neutral: Is a Mask That Covers the Mouth and Nose Free from Undesirable Side Effects in Everyday Use and Free of Potential Hazards? (nih.gov)
Conclusions
On the one hand, the advocacy of an extended mask requirement remains predominantly theoretical and can only be sustained with individual case reports, plausibility arguments based on model calculations and promising in vitro laboratory tests. Moreover, recent studies on SARS-CoV-2 show both a significantly lower infectivity [175] and a significantly lower case mortality than previously assumed, as it could be calculated that the median corrected infection fatality rate (IFR) was 0.10% in locations with a lower than average global COVID-19 population mortality rate [176]. In early October 2020, the WHO also publicly announced that projections show COVID-19 to be fatal for approximately 0.14% of those who become ill—compared to 0.10% for endemic influenza—again a figure far lower than expected [177].
On the other hand, the side effects of masks are clinically relevant.
In our work, we focused exclusively on the undesirable and negative side effects that can be produced by masks. Valid significant evidence of combined mask-related changes were objectified (p < 0.05, n ≥ 50%), and we found a clustered and common occurrence of the different adverse effects within the respective studies with significantly measured effects (Figure 2). We were able to demonstrate a statistically significant correlation of the observed adverse effect of hypoxia and the symptom of fatigue with p < 0.05 in the quantitative evaluation of the primary studies. Our review of the literature shows that both healthy and sick people can experience Mask-Induced Exhaustion Syndrome (MIES), with typical changes and symptoms that are often observed in combination, such as an increase in breathing dead space volume [22,24,58,59], increase in breathing resistance [31,35,60,61], increase in blood carbon dioxide [13,15,17,19,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30,35], decrease in blood oxygen saturation [18,19,21,23,28,29,30,31,32,33,34], increase in heart rate [23,29,30,35], increase in blood pressure [25,35], decrease in cardiopulmonary capacity [31], increase in respiratory rate [15,21,23,34,36], shortness of breath and difficulty breathing [15,17,19,21,23,25,29,31,34,35,60,71,85,101,133], headache [19,27,29,37,66,67,68,71,83], dizziness [23,29], feeling hot and clammy [17,22,29,31,35,44,71,85,133], decreased ability to concentrate [29], decreased ability to think [36,37], drowsiness [19,29,32,36,37], decrease in empathy perception [99], impaired skin barrier function [37,72,73] with itching [31,35,67,71,72,73,91,92,93], acne, skin lesions and irritation [37,72,73], overall perceived fatigue and exhaustion [15,19,21,29,31,32,34,35,69] (Figure 2, Figure 3 and Figure 4).
4.4. Consistent protective effects between Asian and western countries
Due to current controversial guidelines between different countries and areas, regarding the general public wearing masks. We also analyzed its effects based on different geographic locations, showing that wearing masks does provide protective effects in both Asian countries and western countries by 69% and 55%, respectively. Among HCWs, it reduced the risk in both Asian and western countries. Especially, for non-healthcare populations, reduced risk of 54% was found in western countries, and a reduced risk of 49% was found in Asia. This would suggest that the proper use of masks might play a significant role in public health efforts to suppress the spread of RVIs, regardless of the geographic locations, especially during an outbreak.
Children wearing masks Pro: Mask Mythbusters: Common Questions about Kids & Face Masks - HealthyChildren.org
Remember
Masks are an important tool in preventing COVID's spread, especially as dangerous variants circulate among unvaccinated children. They are safe and effective for anyone over 2 years old. Don't hesitate to talk with your child's pediatrician if you have any questions about your child wearing face masks.
Children wearing masks Neutral -> Con: The COVID generation: how is the pandemic affecting kids’ brains? (nature.com) (Combined Lock-Down and Mask Mandate effect)
