I’ll preface by saying I’m not trying to make a case for or against masks or their effectiveness. I wear masks everywhere. I’m just interested in accuracy, reliability, and validity in testing methods to ensure appropriate response outcomes. Mask data is just one of many areas I feel we should have focus on to demand the highest accuracy of information. I would hypothesize an overall negative correlation between mask wearing and Covid spread for all mandated states. It’s interesting how that isn’t the case for every state. Thoughts to variables that affect data in those states?
States with no statewide mask requirement:
Alaska, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, S Carolina, S Dakota, Tennessee
States where cases are highest (by population percentage):
Vermont, Massachusetts, Louisiana, Maine, S Carolina, California, Texas, Illinois, Florida, New York, Pennsylvania
(Sources)
www.healthline.com
www.wrcbtv.com
* Here’s a research study that says the exact opposite of what’s noted above.
“The study provides direct evidence on the effectiveness of widespread community use of face masks from a natural experiment that evaluated the effects of state government mandates in the US for face mask use in public on COVID-19 spread.”
Here’s a big study limitation...there’s no measure for compliance. Nor is there any follow up to the study. Biggest issue is their time sample was less than 2 months.
* This is one of the few articles I’ve seen where a researcher admits the data is poor. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02801-8
“ When her Danish colleagues first suggested distributing protective cloth face masks to people in Guinea-Bissau to stem the spread of the coronavirus, Christine Benn wasn’t so sure.
“I said, ‘Yeah, that might be good, but there’s limited data on whether face masks are actually effective,’” says Benn, a global-health researcher at the University of Southern Denmark in Copenhagen, who for decades has co-led public-health campaigns in the West African country, one of the world’s poorest.”
States with no statewide mask requirement:
Alaska, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, S Carolina, S Dakota, Tennessee
States where cases are highest (by population percentage):
Vermont, Massachusetts, Louisiana, Maine, S Carolina, California, Texas, Illinois, Florida, New York, Pennsylvania
(Sources)
Where COVID-19 Cases, Hospitalizations Are Rising
COVID-19 hospitalizations dropped significantly this past week in the United States while the number of new cases declined sharply again.
www.healthline.com
Most states now require face masks to reduce the spread of Covid-19; these are the ones that don't
While health officials agree face masks help prevent the spread of Covid-19, state and local governments have varied widely on implementation of mask rules.
* Here’s a research study that says the exact opposite of what’s noted above.
“The study provides direct evidence on the effectiveness of widespread community use of face masks from a natural experiment that evaluated the effects of state government mandates in the US for face mask use in public on COVID-19 spread.”
Here’s a big study limitation...there’s no measure for compliance. Nor is there any follow up to the study. Biggest issue is their time sample was less than 2 months.
* This is one of the few articles I’ve seen where a researcher admits the data is poor. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02801-8
“ When her Danish colleagues first suggested distributing protective cloth face masks to people in Guinea-Bissau to stem the spread of the coronavirus, Christine Benn wasn’t so sure.
“I said, ‘Yeah, that might be good, but there’s limited data on whether face masks are actually effective,’” says Benn, a global-health researcher at the University of Southern Denmark in Copenhagen, who for decades has co-led public-health campaigns in the West African country, one of the world’s poorest.”
