I am confused as to this new push for mask wearing. There is no scientific evidence that wearing a mask prevents someone from getting the COVID virus nor spreading the virus.
On the other hand there is ample scientific evidence showing that mask wearing is detrimental to your health, especially school-age children.
Yet we are told by the CDC to wear masks even though they have produced no data backing up that decision.
As a sign on the building I work at stated, "wearing a mask shows you care". Masks do not prevent the virus from doing what it does, masks just allow you to show how virtuous you are and how easily it is to control you.
Michael Heinichen
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My family has been vaccinated. This was an easy decision for us. Although the potential for side effects in the long-term may remain unknown, hundreds of millions of doses have been given demonstrating virtually no side effects in the short-term. The short-term side effects of COVID-19 are horrible for some people and we have no idea what the long-term effects of COVID-19 are. So, it is a very simple decision if you think rationally. Regardless, I respect the decision others make to forego a vaccination. However, it angers me deeply that governments are now telling the vaccinated they must revert to social distancing and mask wearing mandates to protect those who choose to not be vaccinated. You can take a horse to water but you can't make him drink. We have brought the water to the horses. If some die of dehydration, it is by their own choice. Do not make me wear a mask due to the poor choices of others.
Jerry Yates
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Mr. Heinichen, please tell us your source of information. My experience researching COVID is very different than yours. Without exception - every single credible source I have found states very clearly and without one iota of ambiguity - wearing a mask helps decrease the spread of COVID-19 and also helps decrease exposure to those wearing a mask.
These same sources also made it very clear - children 2-3 and older greatly benefit by wearing a mask. St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, for example, often requires masks for the children, doctors and family members based on the kind of treatment is being used - regardless of the status of a COVID pandemic. To be clear - St. Jude Hospital sees masks on children as beneficial.
I don't know about anyone else - but if it comes down to me listening to Marjorie Taylor Greene, Jim Jordan, Rand Paul, Tucker Carlson, etc. or the doctors at St. Jude, the Mayo Clinic, Johns Hopkins, etc. - I'm going with St. Jude, Mayo Clinic and Johns Hopkins 100 percent of the time - especially when all three say the exact same thing - masks help.
I mentioned just three of the many sources of credible information. There are many more. It might inconvenience us a bit - as it takes about 10 whole seconds to find any one of these sources.
For those who justifiably ask - who am I to determine what is or isn't credible? I understand. St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Mayo Clinic Education and Research Centers are my three.
George Parker
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Mr. Parker, actually there are numerous studies which have shown cloth and surgical masks to have little or no efficacy in preventing the transmission of the Covid virus. As such, those who have been fully vaccinated are highly unlikely to spread the virus or contract the virus by wearing a mask. Of course the bureaucrats (the CDC, Fauci, et al.) will always preach the political narrative which currently is that masks are recommended indoors regardless of vaccination status and should be required for children (who have shown to be much less affected by Covid) at school. Personally, I feel forcing a child to wear a mask all day at school is form of child abuse.
From my perspective, Covid has been effectively utilized as a political tool to force targeted lockdowns which crippled our economy, especially small businesses and schools while enriching big businesses, big Pharma, and big government. It clearly is a deadly virus to older adults and those with poor health, but given the advent of the vaccines, deaths and hospitalizations have fallen dramatically despite the recent uptick in cases. And just to be clear, I advocate that everyone, who can, be vaccinated.
The bottom line is that our nation and its citizens have been put through the wringer this past 18 months and those of us who are fully vaccinated feel that the pandemic panic should be put behind us and some semblance of normalcy is due. Of course, if anyone wishes to wear a mask, feel free to do so.
BTW, here are some studies that I referenced to above.
https://fee.org/articles/new-danish-study-finds-masks-don-t-protect-wearers-from-covid-infection/
https://www.aier.org/article/masking-a-careful-review-of-the-evidence/
James Nelson