Do COVID Face Masks actually work?

Scientific Evidence claims Face Masks offer insufficient protection against illness and virus

There have been extensive randomized controlled trial (RCT) studies, and meta-analysis reviews of RCT studies, which all show that Face Masks, Face Covering or Respirators DO NOT WORK to prevent respiratory influenza-like illnesses, or respiratory illnesses believed to be transmitted by droplets and aerosol particles, like COVID-19.

Listed below are medical literature that unanimously agree wearing face masks, surgical masks and respirators (N95 or similar) do not reduce the risk of contracting a verified illness.

1 Long, Y Year: 2020 A total of six RCTs involving 9,171 participants were included. There were no statistically significant differences in preventing laboratory-confirmed influenza, laboratory-confirmed respiratory viral infections, laboratory-confirmed respiratory infection, and influenza-like illness using N95 respirators and surgical masks. Meta-analysis indicated a protective effect of N95 respirators against laboratory-confirmed bacterial colonization (RR = 0.58, 95% CI 0.43-0.78). The use of N95 respirators compared with surgical masks is not associated with a lower risk of laboratory-confirmed influenza.

Effectiveness of N95 respirators versus surgical masks against influenza: A systematic review and meta-analysis
J Evid Based Med. 2020; 1- 9
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jebm.12381

2 Radonovich, L. J Year: 2019 Among 2862 randomized participants, 2371 completed the study and accounted for 5180 HCW-seasons. Among outpatient health care personnel, N95 respirators vs medical masks as worn by participants in this trial resulted in no significant difference in the incidence of laboratory-confirmed influenza.

N95 Respirators vs Medical Masks for Preventing Influenza Among Health Care Personnel: A Randomized Clinical Trial
JAMA. 2019; 322(9): 824–833
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2749214

3 Offeddu, V Year: 2017 Self-reported assessment of clinical outcomes was prone to bias. Evidence of a protective effect of masks or respirators against verified respiratory infection (VRI) was not statistically significant.

Effectiveness of Masks and Respirators Against Respiratory Infections in Healthcare Workers: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Clinical Infectious Diseases, Volume 65, Issue 11, 1 December 2017, Pages 1934–1942
https://academic.oup.com/cid/article/65/11/1934/4068747

4 Smith, J. D Year: 2016 We identified six clinical studies. In the meta-analysis of the clinical studies, we found no significant difference between N95 respirators and surgical masks in associated risk of (a) laboratory-confirmed respiratory infection, (b) influenza-like illness, or (c) reported work-place absenteeism.

Effectiveness of N95 respirators versus surgical masks in protecting health care workers from acute respiratory infection: a systematic review and meta-analysis
CMAJ Mar 2016
https://www.cmaj.ca/content/188/8/567

5 Bin-Reza Year: 2012 There were 17 eligible studies. None of the studies established a conclusive relationship between mask/respirator use and protection against influenza infection.

The use of masks and respirators to prevent transmission of influenza: a systematic review of the scientific evidence
Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses 6(4), 257–267
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/j.1750-2659.2011.00307.x

6 Cowling, B Year: 2010 None of the studies reviewed showed a benefit from wearing a mask, in either HCW or community members in households (H). See summary Tables 1 and 2 therein.

Face masks to prevent transmission of influenza virus: A systematic review,
Epidemiology and Infection, 138(4), 449-456.
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/epidemiology-and-infection/article/face-masks-to-prevent-transmission-of-influenza-virus-a-systematic- review/64D368496EBDE0AFCC6639CCC9D8BC05

7 Jacobs, J. L Year: 2009 N95-masked health-care workers (HCW) were significantly more likely to experience headaches. Face mask use in HCW was not demonstrated to provide benefit in terms of cold symptoms or getting colds.

Use of surgical face masks to reduce the incidence of the common cold among health care workers in Japan: A randomized controlled trial
American Journal of Infection Control, Volume 37, Issue 5, 417 – 419
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19216002

SOURCE
To view the full document:

https://www.rcreader.com/commentary/masks-dont-work-covid-a-review-of-science-relevant-to-covide-19-social-policy

Author: Guest • Updated: 04 Sep 2020

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