“Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence” — Carl Sagan
“Extraordinary Mandates require extraordinary evidence of effectiveness” — PF
Demanding everyone wear a mask everywhere indoors and out, on pain of a $HK 5,000 fine -- freely handed out -- counts as an “extraordinary mandate”. But the extraordinary evidence for its effectiveness is just not there. For every sturdy showing mask effectiveness, there’s a study showing none. The very fact that there is no unanimity = no “extraordinary evidence”.
The split between “masks-are-effective” studies and “mask-not-effective” studies seems to be: studies done in the laboratory vs studies done on actual mask use in populations. Masks can be effective on laboratory dummies (even then with widely differing efficacy for different types) but in social situations not effective at all.
Basically, I’ve just had it with masks. Following the data closely these last three years I ken nae use for ‘em. And neither do many folks in the comments. Our dear leader, John Lee, is bouncing around the world giving away free air tickets to come here. There are plenty of people who won’t come to a place that has an “everywhere mask mandate”. You have to see faces! It’s what make us human!
