The science doesn't lie...
but Fauci and the CDC do
Despite his claims to be "science", Anthony Fauci continues to foment misinformation about controlling COVID-19, or more accurately, controlling Americans. In a July 25, 2022 interview on Rising, a news show on The Hill, Fauci mused that, given what he knows now, he would have made COVID-19 restrictions even more stringent, despite evidence that none of the measures implemented by states, whether closing businesses, trying to implement unconstitutional contact tracing, or mask mandates, had any measurable effect on slowing the transmission of the virus. There is evidence that such practices may actually have had the effect of increasing transmission.
Of course, none of that is enough to stop Fauci from saying, "Right now, we are very, very clear that masks do work in prevention of acquisition and transmission," said Fauci. "But you've got to get a well-fitted mask that is of a high quality. And the two we know are high quality are N95 and KN95." (https://reason.com/2022/07/25/anthony-fauci-interview-covid-restrictions-masks/)
Somehow, decades of scientific research no longer mean anything to Mr. Science. Apparently, if it interferes with his ability to exert control, it is unworthy to be attended. Never mind that a 2019 study from the World Health Organization states that there is no evidence masks have any effect of the transmission of a respiratory virus:
OVERALL RESULT OF EVIDENCE ON FACE MASKS
1. Ten RCTs were included in the meta-analysis, and there was no evidence that face masks are effective in reducing transmission of laboratory-confirmed influenza." - https://apps.who.int/iris/rest/bitstreams/1257621/retrieve (page 26)
Oh, they still say, " [a] study suggested that surgical and N95 (respirator) masks were effective in preventing the spread of influenza", but that is one study, and it didn't prove that N95 masks reduce transmission, but that it suggests they do.
And they go on to make suggestions for mask use as well:
Face masks worn by asymptomatic people are conditionally recommended in severe epidemics or pandemics, to reduce transmission in the community. Although there is no evidence that this is effective in reducing transmission, there is mechanistic plausibility for the potential effectiveness of this measure.
A disposable surgical mask is recommended to be worn at all times by symptomatic individuals when in contact with other individuals. Although there is no evidence that this is effective in reducing transmission, there is mechanistic plausibility for the potential effectiveness of this measure. (ibid. - page 14)
So, people should wear masks, despite no evidence of effectiveness, because there is "mechanistic plausibility." Of course, most masks don't filter particles as small as the coronavirus or the aerosols in which it travels, so it is no surprise that masks have little effect.
In May of 2020, the CDC published a similar study titled, Nonpharmaceutical Measures for Pandemic Influenza in Nonhealthcare Settings—Personal Protective and Environmental Measures. In their study, they state the following:
In our systematic review, we identified 10 RCTs that reported estimates of the effectiveness of face masks in reducing laboratory-confirmed influenza virus infections in the community from literature published during 1946–July 27, 2018. In pooled analysis, we found no significant reduction in influenza transmission with the use of face masks (RR 0.78, 95% CI 0.51–1.20; I2 = 30%, p = 0.25) (Figure 2).
...
Disposable medical masks (also known as surgical masks) are loose-fitting devices that were designed to be worn by medical personnel to protect accidental contamination of patient wounds, and to protect the wearer against splashes or sprays of bodily fluids (36). There is limited evidence for their effectiveness in preventing influenza virus transmission either when worn by the infected person for source control or when worn by uninfected persons to reduce exposure. Our systematic review found no significant effect of face masks on transmission of laboratory-confirmed influenza.
We did not consider the use of respirators in the community. Respirators are tight-fitting masks that can protect the wearer from fine particles (37) and should provide better protection against influenza virus exposures when properly worn because of higher filtration efficiency. However, respirators, such as N95 and P2 masks, work best when they are fit-tested, and these masks will be in limited supply during the next pandemic. These specialist devices should be reserved for use in healthcare settings or in special subpopulations such as immunocompromised persons in the community, first responders, and those performing other critical community functions, as supplies permit.
Even the CDC says only that N95 masks should provide better protection, but they also state that N95 masks should be reserved for medical personnel and first responders. Well, Fauci knows better, right?
Of course, despite their own statements that masks don't reduce the transmission of influenza, the CDC had no problem publishing in July of 2021 an article that attributed the decrease in influenza activity to mask use:
"The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent implementation of nonpharmaceutical interventions (e.g., cessation of global travel, mask use, physical distancing, and staying home) reduced transmission of some viral respiratory pathogens (1). In the United States, influenza activity decreased in March 2020, was historically low through the summer of 2020 (2), and remained low during October 2020–May 2021 (<0.4% of respiratory specimens with positive test results for each week of the season)." (emphasis mine)
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/wr/mm7029a1.htm?s_cid=mm7029a1_w
Talk about cognitive dissonance. After all, it couldn't possibly have been that flu cases were just misdiagnosed as COVID-19, right?
Of course, Fauci isn't completely wrong to suggest that N95 masks would be better than cloth masks - they definitely are. But while N95 masks can filter smaller particles, the COVID-19 particles may still be small enough to sneak through. On top of that, they are most effective if they are "fit-tested" (as the CDC article states), but this likely won't be the case for the general public. There are also precautions regarding N95 masks as the FDA notes:
People with chronic respiratory, cardiac, or other medical conditions that make breathing difficult should check with their health care provider before using an N95 respirator because the N95 respirator can make it more difficult for the wearer to breathe.
Some models have exhalation valves that can make breathing out easier and help reduce heat build-up. Note that N95 respirators with exhalation valves should not be used when sterile conditions are needed.
All FDA-cleared N95 respirators are labeled as "single-use," disposable devices. If your respirator is damaged or soiled, or if breathing becomes difficult, you should remove the respirator, discard it properly, and replace it with a new one. To safely discard your N95 respirator, place it in a plastic bag and put it in the trash. Wash your hands after handling the used respirator.
N95 respirators are not designed for children or people with facial hair. Because a proper fit cannot be achieved on children and people with facial hair, the N95 respirator may not provide full protection.
So, people with chronic illnesses or trouble breathing shouldn't wear N95 masks (sounds like COVID-19 patients). N95 masks with exhalation valves can make breathing easier, but they're useless for source control (so they wouldn't be useful for sometime with COVID-19). Used N95 masks should be put in a plastic bag and that bag placed in the garbage (kind of like all the masks we've seen strewn about grocery store parking lots, gas stations, and sidewalks since early 2020), and hands subsequently washed. Lastly, of course, they don't work for kids or people with facial hair. Sounds like an incredible solution, doesn't it?
Why anyone is still interviewing Fauci or giving him credence is beyond me. With all of the damage he's wreaked throughout his career, were it not for the difference in age, I wouldn't be the in the least surprised if someone was to tell me his college roommate was Josef Mengele.
We should all be thankful he is retiring at the end of the current administration. Now if someone could just convince all of the CDC and the FDA to do the same....