We know that wearing a mask outside health care facilities offers little, if any, protection from infection.
Facemasks are recommend for specific situations:
Being face to face with an infected person
Within 6 feet of an infected person
The infected person is symptomatic
Contact that lasts from 10 to 30 minutes
Therefore masks should be used in certain medical settings. Those caring for, or living with a symptomatic person may also benefit from a mask. But what is the rational for mandating use of fasemask outside? What is driving our media and politicians to promote masks for almost any situations when someone leaves their home? The article does not say what is happening inside the politician's minds. It does however, offer some speculation on why masks have become so popular.
In many cases, the desire for widespread masking is a reflexive reaction to anxiety over the pandemic.
Should masks be used by themselves?
In situations where PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) is needed, a facemask is just one component. Other PPE which should be used includes:
- Gown
- Gloves
- Eye protection
Furthermore, without proper use of the PPE and hand-washing, masks are of little benefit.
The benefit of making all of society wear facemasks?
Governors Cuomo in NY has used his emergency powers to dictate the mandatory use of fascemasks. This does not seem to be a temporary measure. Recent guidelines for how businesses are to operate in NYS give no time frame. Governor Cuomo seems intent on permanently changing society to a state of constant virual paranoia.
Video clearly shows that Governor Cuomo wants this to be a permanent cultural change.
I can find no scientific basis for these politician's obsession with fasemasks. A few months ago such behavior in an individual would have been considered a case of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. As Gerald Celente of Trendsjounal explains, it's the "New Abnormal." Additionally, politicians ignore numerous health problems caused by fasemasks.
Politicians usher in a new "abnormal" based off of fear and no science. they are making the rules up.
Reasons to not wear a facemask
- Masks trap viral particles, creating possibility for infection.
- The damp environment of the mask creates opportunely for bacteria to grow, with may cause infection for the use.
- Impairs breathing. Masks decrease how much oxygen we can breath in. They also increase our levels of carbon dioxide.
- Only N95 mask, when properly worn may work. Surgical, and especially cloth masks are worthless against coronavirus (see link to my article below). There are currently no regulations on facemasks. Anyone can produce them. They are not made to any standard. Packaging often includes warnings that they are not designed to prevent viral infection.
Go here for Russel Blaylock's article on the dangers of wearing fasemasks
I have also written a blog post a few weeks ago on the dangers of facemasks
World Health Organization does not support social mask wearing
It is not only some naturopathic doctors or people or people who promote alternative health who question social mask wearing. Even the World Health Organization tells people they only need to wear facemasks in specific situations.
Pyshcological effects of facemasks
The NEJM states that the real reason for social fasemask use maybe psychological. It can reduce anxiety about becoming infected. The words symbole and talismans are used to describe masks. What is ignored is the negative psychological effects. In specific health settings masks reduce anxiety. Forcing all of society to wear them increases anxiety. Masks are a symbol that anyone you pass on the street is a danger. Anyone may kill you with infection. The mask thus becomes a symbol of perpetual fear.
The long term effect this has on cortisol and stress response is ignored by politicians. Stress and social isolation is associated with disease and shorter life expectancy. Social mask wearing has not been subjected to cost benefit analysis by politicians who enforce their use with no scientific rationale whatsoever.
Facemask recommendations from Dr. Marcus
There are many situations where people are forced by government, private business, or social pressure to wear face masks. I am not telling anyone to disobey the law. This is simply what would be done in a more rationale and ideal world.
Masks should only be worn when medically warranted. This includes certain health care situations with high chance of exposure to sick people. Masks may also be useful when taking care of a sick person at home. For this to work, masks must be combined with other measures to stop spread of infection.
There is no needed to wear masks in medical situations where there is no significant chance of infection (when around asymptomatic or healthy people).
Masks should not be worn outside.
No one should do intense or prolonged exercise while wearing a mask.
Peer pressure is not a valid reason for wearing a mask. Other people around you may not want to wear a mask as well but do so purely out of social pressure. Taking off your mask, will make others more confident about taking theirs off. (This only goes for situations where there is no medical need to wear a mask).