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> It does matter. It matters that we can't seem to get covid under control.
Depends what you mean by "under control"... COVID is probably at the levels it will be at for the rest of our lives... The nature of the disease and its vaccines means this is probably where we are going to be stuck at in terms of levels in the population. If everyone masks up again and gets indoors you might see a temporary drop, but it will go right back to baseline in the end.
So its time to just put time and money into better vaccine research and better medical support for the sick... forcing everyone into low-level hazmat for the rest of their lives isnt a solution.
> If they are used properly it *does* reduce community spread of covid.
This is fairly likely to be true, I would agree. The problem is that it is **not** used properly and humans are not receptive enough to education for that to be likely to change in numbers great enough for masks to start doing more good than harm... so its a fairly moot point
> Sure. We can deal with that AFTER COVID IS OVER
There is no COVID being over... short of some drastic leap in medical technology that is likely not to happen for at least a generation, COVID will never be over. The nature of the virus in terms of both resevoirs and asymptomatic carriers virtually garuntees you wont eliminate COVID no matter what you do.
> Not even close. The continuation of an AIRBORN disease killing millions of people and maiming upwards of a billion people is VERY tilted towards whatever will end it.
Moot point, the disease is continuing no matter what you do.. the idea that masks will end COVID completely is nonsensical, it isnt an option.
> This is like complaining that a firefighter's mask is blocking the
ability of deaf people to lipread [which it does] wile they are trying to put out a housefire.
No its not... The firefirghters would be like the medical professionals. They are trained on how to wear masks and in that case the masks are absolutely doing more good than harm.. They should wear it. The fire can never be put out, but when they fight it they should wear it to protect themselves and others... the general population, not so much.
