Please note the photo behind me, a Requiem Mass, which all Catholics hope to have one day:
New study questions the effectiveness of masks against SARS-CoV-2
Research
published at the beginning of April casts serious doubts about the
effectiveness of both surgical and cloth masks in preventing the spread
of infectious SARS-CoV-2 particles.
In an effort to find more ways of slowing the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers and public health officials around the world have been debating whether using face masks in public might help.
This is a long and fraught debate, and international specialists and decision makers have not reached a consensus.
Earlier this month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued new guidelines on the use of face masks by the public.
The guidelines encourage people to wear homemade cloth masks while out and about, while still urging them to leave specialized surgical masks and N95 respirators to medical professionals, who have been facing a dangerous shortage.
At the same time, the World Health Organization (WHO), which have also updated their guidelines for the use of protective face masks, warn instead that “The wide use of masks by healthy people in the community setting is not supported by current evidence and carries uncertainties and critical risks.”
So what does the latest scientific evidence indicate?
According to a study recently published in Nature and covered by Medical News Today, surgical masks may go some way toward preventing a person with a viral respiratory infection from spreading infectious particles.
However, while the study did look at coronaviruses, it did not account for SARS-CoV-2, as the initial research had taken place before the start of the current pandemic.
Now, new findings, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, suggest that neither surgical nor cloth masks are at all effective in stopping the spread of SARS-CoV-2.
The research, conducted by investigators from the University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University Hospital, and Sejong University — all in Seoul, South Korea — involved a group of four participants receiving medical care for COVID-19.
To find out whether — and which — masks could stop the viral particles from spreading, the researchers asked the participants to cough over petri dishes without a mask, while wearing a disposable surgical mask, and while wearing a reusable mask made of cotton cloth.
In each of these three circumstances, the participants had to cough five times. Each time, they did so over a different petri dish.
Finally, the team swabbed the outer and inner surfaces of each mask — cotton or surgical.
They expected to find droplets containing SARS-CoV-2 on the inner surfaces. The question was whether any viral particles had been able to pass through the masks to their outer surfaces.
After analyzing the swabs, the researchers found particles of SARS-CoV-2 on the outsides of both types of mask, suggesting that neither type can contain the virus.
“Neither surgical nor cotton masks effectively filtered SARS–CoV-2 during coughs by infected patients,” the researchers write in their study paper.
“Prior evidence that surgical masks effectively filtered influenza virus informed recommendations that patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 should wear face masks to prevent transmission,” they explain.
The team goes on to note that, while it remains unclear just how large particles containing SARS-CoV-2 and carried by the breath are, estimates regarding the size of a similar coronavirus, SARS-CoV, suggest that “Surgical masks are unlikely to effectively filter” it.
The researchers, moreover, emphasize that:
“Of note, we found greater contamination on the outer than the inner mask surfaces. Although it is possible that virus particles may cross from the inner to the outer surface because of the physical pressure of swabbing, we swabbed the outer surface before the inner surface. The consistent finding of virus on the outer mask surface is unlikely to have been caused by experimental error or artifact.”This study did not aim to verify whether surgical or cloth masks are able to shorten the trajectory of droplets emitted through coughing.
Nevertheless, based on their findings so far, the investigators conclude that surgical masks and reusable cloth masks are both “ineffective in preventing the dissemination of SARS-CoV-2.”
Evidently these Savannah protesters, can you pick out clergy, along with UK Priest agree with the above science:
25 comments:
Here is a more recent article on the subject from the New England Journal of Medicine:
https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2006372?fbclid=IwAR1NWQI4OUuUKI0XdDirXa95w7Z2XTJD7o7ueh22QGpCoN0P6tHsc2kP7LM
Masks may offer a bit more protection to health care workers, but outside health care facilities they are not particularly effective, or I should say they are effective in giving people a (false) sense of security to relive Covid-19 anxiety, but little else.
In addition to the faulty notion these homemade masks do anything with the COVID-19 particles that are very, very tiny, is the self righteousness of users who think they are better than those who don't believe these are effective and thus don't wear them. In fact we think it exacerbates the problem. But, it makes those who wear them feel worthy because they love others whom they don't want to transmit the virus to. A nice sentiment in a sentimental culture where facts don't matter.
"...can you pick out clergy,..."
Yep. Easy.
Mayo Clinic: "Can face masks help prevent the spread of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19? Yes, face masks combined with other preventive measures, such as frequent hand-washing and social distancing, help slow the spread of the virus."
Live Science: "The bottom line, experts say, is that masks might help keep people with COVID-19 from unknowingly passing along the virus."
Cleveland Clinic: "Dr. Dweik confirms that those homemade masks, often made of material like cotton, won’t do much to protect you from inhaling particles that carry the virus. But they do protect wearers from possibly spreading the virus to others."
And while you're going on and on in an attempt to justify not wearing a mask in the chapel before the ordination, you will also have to justify the almost total absence of any "social distancing" between and among most of the priests, including yourself, who were there.
FrMJK, please were you social distancing at the peaceful protest downtown while using your useless mask? No, I was not social distancing but I was physically far away but I was talking to others unlike you stuck off in a far distant corner cowering like chicken little. Nurses in my parish are more courageous.
I have been social distancing in whatever situation I find myself. Yes, I was most certainly social distancing PLUS at the rally. Providentially, I was also upwind of the crowd most of the time.
No, you were not wearing a mask in the chapel before the ordination, and, no, you were not "physically far away" from the clergy while you carried on your jovial conversations. (Remember, I have the photographs.) No, I was not cowering in a corner - I was standing in the aisle on the opposite side of the chapel from the crowd you were part of. From that responsibly chosen spot, I, too, was carrying on conversations with others.
"Social distancing, face masks and eye protection all appear to reduce the spread of COVID-19, in both health care settings and the general community, according to a new review commissioned by the World Health Organization (WHO). The review found that keeping a distance of at least 3 feet (1 meter) from other people lowered the chances of coronavirus infection or spread by 82%, and keeping a distance of 6 feet (2 m) could be even more effective."
A study out of Hong Kong by a very pro-mask doctor claimed to prove surgical mask effectivity, while all he succeeded in doing was showing the virus not especially airborne. He did multiple trials of a week, infected hamster in one box, 3ea healthy hamsters in a second box, connected by a passageway with fan at midpoint. He only averaged 75% infection rates. Then he installed a surgical mask partition (I bet a leakproof atypical seal, too) at infected rodent end and infections dropped to 20%, then same partition at healthy rodent end and only got 50%. This is why microbiologists should stick to what they know. He choked airflow at either end, slowing airflow of likely ground bound virus. It never made it to the fan when infected side blocked, while healthy side blocked had virus impact and settle on floor. The hamsters groom constantly, and those hanging nearest partition became infected. Had it been virulent airborne, he should have had near certain infection after a week.
“Father” Kavanaugh does not have to social distance since he is a charter member of the Virtue Signallers Club
Father, if I may:
My concern with seeing so little social distancing in photos of the Ordination Mass last Saturday is that my home parish church is reduced to about 10, at most 20% occupancy with blue masking tape everywhere, first-come, first-served seating. And we are strongly advised to not stand around outside before or after Mass to socialize. Yet our clergy are apparently not subject to the same restrictions?
Face masks are a separate issue—the jury is still out on that, although I continue to wear one hoping to protect others. I am a retired health care professional with a history of infectious disease work. I never touch the mask or my face until I’ve gotten home to remove it, then scrub hands for 20 seconds reciting two reverent “Hail Mary” prayers.
I am hoping you will understand my concern. If not, I will not lose sleep over it. You are much loved here in our house! I am NOT Fr. MJK. He and I disagree on most things believe me, including use of the Common Chalice.
His Holiness, Pope Francis, our holy and great Culture of Life Supreme Shepherd, has been at the forefront among those who have implored God (as well as having invoked the Blessed Virgin Mary's intercession) to deliver us from Covid-19.
Suddenly, we received very positive, exciting reports about Covid-19 vaccines that may become available by the end of this year.
There are reports that the virus has weakened in certain areas of the world.
Regardless, God is with Pope Francis. God is with His Holy People who, in turn, are in communion with Pope Francis.
Therefore, I believe that God will respond in positive fashion to Pope Francis' prayers, as well as organized spiritual events, that have implored our Majestic God to deliver us from Covid-19.
Pax.
Mark Thomas
If masks are not effective, demand that everyone in the surgery suite for your next heart bypass operation carry out the entire procedure from prep to post-op with no masks on.
Mark Thomas,
Your statement should be labeled: Major Barf Alert
A@5:23, their masks work. Ours not so much.
It's nice to know Fr Kavanaugh and TJM started a club together over a common interest. I didn't even know there was a club for virtue signaling, but it totally makes sense. Maybe they'll get a chance to hang out at the local VSC lodge and finally overcome their differences.
FRAJM @ 5:56, you are correct in your observation that Surgical-grade N95 masks carry a lot of years of data to support use. Cloth homemade masks not so much, if any real scientific data. But if cloth masks do prevent spreading at least SOME fine particle aerosolized spray during laughing, singing and socializing, that may be better than nothing. And worth the discomfort of using them to protect others. Err on the side of caution—I know you believe this about use of the Common Chalice, as do I. God bless.
Anon 5:12
Father McDonald,
The photo of Nancy Pelosi, fake catholic extraordinaire, with Archbishop Gregory shows he is just another Democrat operative masquerading as a Catholic priest. What a tool
Father McDonald,
You nailed it
I have been waiting 3 mths for a simple petri dish test and finally got it.
I have news for those of you citing unvetted studies showing effectivity....science is not a vote for prom queen.
If various tests do not verify a theory pretty much every time with results backing a theory, it does not MATTER how many times results DO back a theory. All it takes is once and your theory is dead. You all are proceeding from a completely unverified premise, that this is primarily an airborne pathogen. The fact is, they have yet to verify normal flu or colds method of transmission.
Let me reference again that Hong Kong study. It was the equivalent to three of you sharing an adjoining suite with an infected person and setting a fan to vent from infected person to you three healthy people, NONSTOP FOR A SOLID WEEK.
If it was a deadly airborne pathogen, then you three would/should be goners, every time. Instead, max average in multiple trials showed 75% infection rate. It is transmitting some other way, folks. LIKELY from surfaces as the body sheds virus, and those transferred to mucous membrane by hands. You are also treating unvetted computer animation models as reality. It is a cartoon, folks. Somebody coughing over a petri dish will have virus falling free into dish, mask or no mask, fyi.
I am amazed at the utter lack of critical thinking skills by all those reading the morning paper and swearing it as God's word. Look at your state statistics, note infection numbers after the mask RECOMMENDATION WHEN SOCIAL DISTANCING CANNOT BE MAINTAINED. Look one to two weeks past that RECOMMENDATION and its wide adoption by a frightened populace, and show infections suddenly plummeting.
You cannot, because they did not. And raise your hand if you have a source of medical grade gear, and then share with the rest of us, if you are so certain it does a thing.
WhatEVER you do, please do not be going to mob rallies and removing your medical grade mask to swill from an open beer to parade your Christian virtue signalling. You should have that beer checked, all 6 empties.
From Psalm 55:
"Hear my prayer, O God;
don't turn away from my plea!
Listen to me and answer me;
I am worn out by my worries....
I see violence and riots in the city,
surrounding it day and night,
Filling it with crime and trouble.
There is destruction everywhere;
The streets are full of oppression and fraud.....
But you, O God, will bring those murderers
and liars to their graves
before half their life is over.
As for me, I will trust in you."
Archbishop Vigano hits back at fake Catholic Archbishop Wilton Gregory:
June 3, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – Former U.S. Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò has strongly criticized Washington Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory as a “false shepherd” for rebuking the John Paul II National Shrine for “allowing” President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump to go through with a long-planned visit yesterday.
“Unfortunately, the Catholic Church is led by many false pastors,” stated Viganò in a June 3 letter to priests and laity of the Archdiocese of Washington (read full letter below).
“Over the past twenty years, your [Archdiocese] of Washington, in particular and now for the third time, has been and continues to be deeply afflicted and wounded by false shepherds whose way of life is full of lies, deceits, lust and corruption. Wherever they have been, they were a cause of serious scandal for various local Churches, for your entire country and for the whole Church,” he continued."
Elect this man Pope! He fights!
They pulled the study and show totally what I mean as to all the studies accepted as gospel truth by the masses....this same research sloppiness cuts both directions. But still am quite put out that after all this time and all the "experts", folk still lack something as basic as a study of virus infected people coughing into lab culture dishes with and without various masks and seeing what happens. And controlling for virus shed by other means to limit dish exposure to only what being studied. Most of these researchers are very poor in basic physics and engineering, and know only microbes and DNA sampling.
Instead, they decide a preordained outcome, and then seek an experiment to verify their prejudice. That is NOT science. Science is doing an experiment, seeing what happens, and then proposing an answer to why it hapoened as it did, and then testing THAT idea. This above referenced test where they automatically assumed virus on outside of mask MUST have come THROUGH the mask is a great example of lack of critical thinking skills, such as, "hmmm....any OTHER way virus might get on outsides of masks?"
Father,
Your same intuition that the common chalice is a germ sharing medium would need to be equally applied to masks. Obviously, barriers prevent things that come out of your mouth from going as far. Coughing into your sleeve is polite. Etc. Science cannot prove that masks are ineffective just like science cannot prove that the common chalice does not spread sickness. Science has already spoken in both cases (shared utensils and the effectiveness of barriers). Any study proving otherwise is simply showing correlations or taking into account a different question or showing the likelihood of something giving a set of mediating or agitating causes, not the failed causal agency of such and such known physical property.
When water is flowing freely over a dam, folk fixating and obsessing over closing the spillway as a means to keep people downstream safe are living in cloud cuckoo land. Your body is exuding virus, it is in every dead flake of skin, hair, sweat, and you are surrounded as by a cloud settling gently as leaves blowing everywhere you go.....a mask essentially is lucky to do what covering with an elbow will do....it merely cuts down some on projectile type spread....and truly only applicable to the morons who insist on not covering mouth and nose when they sneeze, while a mask not back by an elbow will still blow a cloud out around and THROUGH a mask....it is a question of degree, and a very minor degree it is, to fade into statstical uselessness, as any infection chart will show when compared to pre-mask-recommendation times....it is a pocket full of posies and a rope of garlic around neck, and that is ALL it is...everywhere examined, whether hospitals or cruise ships, has show this virus is EVERYWHERE in any confined spaces and infected people...people are acting as if breath is a death beam when it the entire body.
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