Masks and Medical Superstition
IN PENNSYLVANIA, Gov. Tom Wolfe this week ordered stores to deny service to customers not wearing a face mask. So after writing for weeks about how wrong and unnecessary it is to make the whole world resemble a hospital ward, I have no choice but to wear a mask. In protest, I wear one that is too big and looks especially ridiculous. I refuse to wear anything remotely fashionable. I would have no problem wearing a mask if I were sick and might infect others. But I am not sick. This dictatorial order is contrary to longstanding medical science and to recent recommendations of the Surgeon General and the World Health Organization. Studies show that masks are only effective in preventing the spread of coronaviruses (and other respiratory infections) if worn by people who are already symptomatic with coughs. Those who are asymptomatic do not spread the viruses through droplets in the air (but can spread them --- under certain specific conditions --- through contact with surfaces.) In March, the World Health Organization reported the results of a study of Covid-infected people in China: In an analysis of 75,465 COVID-19 cases in China, airborne transmission was not reported.8 Droplet transmission occurs when a person is in in close contact (within 1 m) with someone who has respiratory symptoms (e.g., coughing or sneezing) and is therefore at risk of having his/her mucosae (mouth and nose) or conjunctiva (eyes) exposed to potentially infective…



