Re: Not Really Technical but Important
It sucks that after almost three years we're still dealing with this. Hoping for a speedy recovery for those who are ill.
I'm a physician in my day job. I stopped wearing a mask in my office over a year ago, after I had been vaccinated. A notice informs patients of my choice so they can opt out of seeing me if they choose. There is very little convincing data that supports wearing anything but an N95 mask that has been properly fitted and tested. There is even some data that has recently come out that suggests possible higher mortality rates in those that wear the common cloth non-N95 masks. See attached articles. Briefly, it seems the mask may capture some larger aerosol droplets with virus particles (although not enough to prevent infection it seems, since the masks also do not show a lower infection rate) that can then dry out and release smaller droplets or perhaps even free viruses that can enter farther into the respiratory airways, resulting in a more severe infection. This has been termed the Foegen effect, after the author who published this. Think of it this way: Despite being quadruple vaxxed and the extremely stringent precautions taken around him, including mandatory masking, weekly testing, and social distancing rules at the White House, Biden still managed to get infected. The latest version of this virus is extremely contagious, one of if not the most contagious viruses known, but it also is much less virulent than the earlier versions, thankfully.
Just my 2 cents.
Mike
New study: Face mask usage correlates with higher death rates | Israel National News - Arutz Sheva
The Foegen effect: A mechanism by which facemasks contribute... : Medicine (lww.com)
It sucks that after almost three years we're still dealing with this. Hoping for a speedy recovery for those who are ill.
I'm a physician in my day job. I stopped wearing a mask in my office over a year ago, after I had been vaccinated. A notice informs patients of my choice so they can opt out of seeing me if they choose. There is very little convincing data that supports wearing anything but an N95 mask that has been properly fitted and tested. There is even some data that has recently come out that suggests possible higher mortality rates in those that wear the common cloth non-N95 masks. See attached articles. Briefly, it seems the mask may capture some larger aerosol droplets with virus particles (although not enough to prevent infection it seems, since the masks also do not show a lower infection rate) that can then dry out and release smaller droplets or perhaps even free viruses that can enter farther into the respiratory airways, resulting in a more severe infection. This has been termed the Foegen effect, after the author who published this. Think of it this way: Despite being quadruple vaxxed and the extremely stringent precautions taken around him, including mandatory masking, weekly testing, and social distancing rules at the White House, Biden still managed to get infected. The latest version of this virus is extremely contagious, one of if not the most contagious viruses known, but it also is much less virulent than the earlier versions, thankfully.
Just my 2 cents.
Mike
New study: Face mask usage correlates with higher death rates | Israel National News - Arutz Sheva
The Foegen effect: A mechanism by which facemasks contribute... : Medicine (lww.com)
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