October 11, 2020
Masks are Permanent Even With Vaccine
Story at-a-glance
According to Dr. Paul Offit, people will need to continue wearing masks and social distancing for "the next couple of years" even after a COVID-19 vaccine becomes available
A viral video shows the violent arrest of an Ohio mom at a local football game, ostensibly for not wearing her mask in the stands. The problem with arresting people for not complying with mask rules is that there's no evidence to support the idea that masks prevent the spread of the virus
Face shields, recommended as an added layer to protect the mucous membranes of your eyes, are useless for the prevention of viral spread, especially if used alone in lieu of a mask. Masks with exhalation ports are also useless as they do not filter the out-breath.
Flow visualization research shows that while face shields block the initial forward motion of the jet, expelled droplets move around the visor and spread out over a large area. Visualizations for face masks equipped with an exhalation port show droplets pass through the exhale valve unfiltered
On September 18, 2020, the CDC posted updated COVID-19 guidance that, for the first time, mentioned aerosol transmission of SARS-CoV-2, saying "this is thought to be the main way the virus spreads." It also noted that aerosolized viruses can travel farther than 6 feet. The CDC deleted these sections on September 21, claiming they were posted in error. Aerosolized spread confirms the futility of mask rules.
According to rotavirus vaccine developer Dr. Paul Offit, people will need to continue wearing masks and social distancing for "the next couple of years" even after a COVID-19 vaccine becomes available.
"People now see vaccines as magic dust that's about to be sprinkled over this country and make this all go away. It doesn't work that way," Offit told MarketWatch, September 21, 2020.
