I want to say that there may be a fundamental contradiction between improved ventilation (which has a great deal of supportive evidence - stale air is detrimental to health for many reasons, and the potential for carrying potentially infective viral loads is only one of them) and wearing masks.
The first *improves* air quality in a space, the second *disimproves* air quality available for direct intake at the locality of the mouths and noses of individuals.
I do think that masks have some value when used by trained professionals as Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in situations considered especially risky - for example in a surgical theatre/operating room.
However, to ask untrained people to use any old mask, any old way, with no knowledge of what protection they are trying to achieve, and how to actually achieve it, turns out to be counterprotective to the preservation of health. It does not stop transmission of viral loads (because of incorrect use) but it does disimprove the quality of air being breathed (because used at all).
This is what people mean when they say there is no evidence that "masks work". They are referring to this general requirement for people not trained in their uses, to put any old rag across their faces, and keep it there when asked to do so. There is no evidence that this type of requirement achieves anything useful, and some evidence that it can produce harm.
Improved ventilation, on the other hand... It has ALWAYS been a sound recommendation... not just now!
Re: Stats are right, conclusion is wrong
I want to say that there may be a fundamental contradiction between improved ventilation (which has a great deal of supportive evidence - stale air is detrimental to health for many reasons, and the potential for carrying potentially infective viral loads is only one of them) and wearing masks.
The first *improves* air quality in a space, the second *disimproves* air quality available for direct intake at the locality of the mouths and noses of individuals.
I do think that masks have some value when used by trained professionals as Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in situations considered especially risky - for example in a surgical theatre/operating room.
However, to ask untrained people to use any old mask, any old way, with no knowledge of what protection they are trying to achieve, and how to actually achieve it, turns out to be counterprotective to the preservation of health. It does not stop transmission of viral loads (because of incorrect use) but it does disimprove the quality of air being breathed (because used at all).
This is what people mean when they say there is no evidence that "masks work". They are referring to this general requirement for people not trained in their uses, to put any old rag across their faces, and keep it there when asked to do so. There is no evidence that this type of requirement achieves anything useful, and some evidence that it can produce harm.
Improved ventilation, on the other hand... It has ALWAYS been a sound recommendation... not just now!