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More data suggesting that masks don't slow the spread of Covid

Debate and discussion of current events and political issues across the U.S. and throughout the World. Be forewarned -- this forum is NOT for the intellectually weak or those of you with thin skins. Don't come crying to me if you become the subject of ridicule. **Board Administrator reserves the right to revoke posting privileges based on my sole discretion**
bmw
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More data suggesting that masks don't slow the spread of Covid

Unread post by bmw »

I routinely point to Sweden, and the pro-mask nazis in here always try to vaguely argue that Sweden is somehow different. Well - here is data from the state of Florida, specifically comparing counties where schools have mask-wearing mandates vs ones that don't. Over the span of the entire school year, the numbers are literally identical - the average 10-day moving average works out to exactly 35.6 cases per 100,000 people in both groups. In other words, in counties where schools don't require masks, there is literally ZERO PERCENT higher spread than in schools where the masks are required. TRANSLATION: whether kids wear masks at school or not makes no difference whatsoever to the total Covid cases within the community.

I'd love to hear the explanation for this one.

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screen glare
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Re: More data suggesting that masks don't slow the spread of Covid

Unread post by screen glare »

If influenza numbers this flu season are down - that’s a good gauge of how effective mask wearing is in stopping contagion.

BTW - ANYTHING coming out of Florida under the under-handed Governor DeSantis should be taken with a grain of salt. The lock-step Trumpster is well known as a liar and a cheat. Especially where stats or numbers of any kind are concerned.

Keep an eye on the ambitious guy.

Both he and Florida’s former Governor turned Senator, Rick Scott are making their way to the Oval Office by hook or by CROOK. Both nasty as hell. Neither feels guilt about bureaucratically stealing money or vicariously killing people. Two to watch, future presidential voters.
km1125
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Re: More data suggesting that masks don't slow the spread of Covid

Unread post by km1125 »

screen glare wrote: Sat Mar 20, 2021 6:05 am If influenza numbers this flu season are down - that’s a good gauge of how effective mask wearing is in stopping contagion.
...
Any actual data to back that up, or is it a case of "correlation doesn't equal causation"?
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TC Talks
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Re: More data suggesting that masks don't slow the spread of Covid

Unread post by TC Talks »

km1125 wrote: Sat Mar 20, 2021 7:37 am
screen glare wrote: Sat Mar 20, 2021 6:05 am If influenza numbers this flu season are down - that’s a good gauge of how effective mask wearing is in stopping contagion.
...
Any actual data to back that up, or is it a case of "correlation doesn't equal causation"?
Is there a legitimate data to support what BMW is suggesting?

Science is rarely unilateral and there are many more studies suggesting masks do work than don't.
For Kristian Trumpers are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people.
-Romans 16:18

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zzand
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Re: More data suggesting that masks don't slow the spread of Covid

Unread post by zzand »

You can find, if you look hard enough, studies to back up whatever your feelings are. They are all subjective BS
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Re: More data suggesting that masks don't slow the spread of Covid

Unread post by Matt »

screen glare wrote: Sat Mar 20, 2021 6:05 am If influenza numbers this flu season are down - that’s a good gauge of how effective mask wearing is in stopping contagion.

BTW - ANYTHING coming out of Florida under the under-handed Governor DeSantis should be taken with a grain of salt. The lock-step Trumpster is well known as a liar and a cheat. Especially where stats or numbers of any kind are concerned.

Keep an eye on the ambitious guy.

Both he and Florida’s former Governor turned Senator, Rick Scott are making their way to the Oval Office by hook or by CROOK. Both nasty as hell. Neither feels guilt about bureaucratically stealing money or vicariously killing people. Two to watch, future presidential voters.
Ron DeSantis might be the nation's best governor. Even CNN says he had the model response: https://www.mibuzzboard.com/phpBB3/view ... 24&t=57160

Also, the data source is John's Hopkins, the #1 research university in the country.
This is a pro-Harris/Walz account

"I have to admit - Matt is right." ~bmw
zzand
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Re: More data suggesting that masks don't slow the spread of Covid

Unread post by zzand »

John Hopkins isn't always right, no one is
bmw
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Re: More data suggesting that masks don't slow the spread of Covid

Unread post by bmw »

re: influenza - flu numbers vary wildly year to year when we're NOT in a pandemic depending on the particular strain of flu. Moreover, there's a whole host of reasons numbers could be up or down. I don't think you could draw much of any conclusion about mask effectiveness based solely on flu numbers.

As to the suggestion that all "studies" are "subjective BS," sure, if you cherry-pick data, you have a point. But I challenge anybody to post locate and post ANY raw data suggesting that masks actually slow the spread of Covid in a statistically significant way in the real world. Not theoretical studies. Not lab rats. Real world data. There's plenty of data sources out there for anybody who wants to compile the information. Thus far everything I've found suggests either that masks are completely useless or at best barely statistically significantly marginally helpful.
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Robert Faygo
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Re: More data suggesting that masks don't slow the spread of Covid

Unread post by Robert Faygo »

What if...

Masks are highly effective at containment of the flu virus?

And ... at the same time ...

Not nearly as effective at containment of this coronavirus?

It's almost as if these two particular viruses are ... ummmm ... not the same thing!

For a bunch of smart people, boy are we dumb
Wellllll... la de frickin da
bmw
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Re: More data suggesting that masks don't slow the spread of Covid

Unread post by bmw »

Robert Faygo wrote: Sat Mar 20, 2021 10:09 am What if...

Masks are highly effective at containment of the flu virus?

And ... at the same time ...

Not nearly as effective at containment of this coronavirus?

It's almost as if these two particular viruses are ... ummmm ... not the same thing!

For a bunch of smart people, boy are we dumb
The math of R0 values may actually support this theory anyways. Let's say a mask reduces a virus' R0 value by (and I'm pulling this number out of thin air) by 0.3 points. Taking something like the flu virus from an R0 of say 1.4 to 1.1 is going to slow down the spread of that virus drastically since 1.0 is the magic number, while taking something like Covid from say 2.7 to 2.4 isn't really going to help much.
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Robert Faygo
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Re: More data suggesting that masks don't slow the spread of Covid

Unread post by Robert Faygo »

Here's the rub...

I have a lot of doubt about the effectiveness of masks in regards to coronavirus specifically. However, I also think that masks are doing a spectacular job at containment of flu and other regular airborne contagions.

By keeping flu (and other routine crap) suppressed, it's dramatically helped keep the current 4-alarm public health fire from turning into an uncontainable disaster.

Bottom line is that as an overall method that benefits public health during a pandemic, masks are playing a helpful role even if they aren't super effective at containing the specific virus behind the pandemic.

It's just a damn shame that our education methods suck so bad that no one can effectively communicate this and instead choose the lazy methods of mandates. It also, in my opinion, hurts at getting people on board with the one proven way we do have stop this damn thing - vaccines.

Masks would be so much more effective (overall, not just thinking about COVID) if everyone wanted to wear them instead of being forced wear them. It'll be an interesting science experiment to see how many continue to wear them once COVID is contained.
Wellllll... la de frickin da
bmw
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Re: More data suggesting that masks don't slow the spread of Covid

Unread post by bmw »

Robert Faygo wrote: Sat Mar 20, 2021 10:31 am ...I also think that masks are doing a spectacular job at containment of flu and other regular airborne contagions...
I'm curious how you've reached that conclusion. I'm not saying you're wrong as I don't have enough data to reach a conclusion either way, but just wondering.
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Bryce
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Re: More data suggesting that masks don't slow the spread of Covid

Unread post by Bryce »

I just returned from Florida. It's pretty much completely open business wise. Masks are being worn at indoor venues but not much outside, at least in the Miami area. People were indeed practicing social distancing both inside and out, except for South Beach. South Beach was a spring break train wreck.

If Florida numbers are similar to those in Michigan, Florida got it right without being draconian.
New York and Chicago were all in with respect to their sanctuary status — until they were hit with the challenge of actually providing sanctuary. In other words, typical liberal hypocrisy.
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Robert Faygo
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Re: More data suggesting that masks don't slow the spread of Covid

Unread post by Robert Faygo »

bmw wrote: Sat Mar 20, 2021 11:59 am
I'm curious how you've reached that conclusion. I'm not saying you're wrong as I don't have enough data to reach a conclusion either way, but just wondering.
A generalization stolen from a general practitioner friend. His treatments for flu, upper respiratory infections, and the like has fallen off by more than 85%. The only thing keeping the lights on are physicals and people coming in for things that turn out to be items that need to be referred out to specialists.
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bmw
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Re: More data suggesting that masks don't slow the spread of Covid

Unread post by bmw »

Does that practitioner attribute that specifically to the masks? They may be a factor, but so may be social distancing, people out in public less, public awareness for hand-washing, etc, etc.
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