Everything to do with masks / face coverings

[shadowmoon]

1 minute ago, Jack said:

he didnt go there for an eye test, he went there to discuss testing

 

https://www.honeymangroup.com/laboratories/news/launch-of-mosaiq-antibody-testing-platform-for-covid-19/

 

AUNCH OF MosaiQ™ ANTIBODY TESTING PLATFORM FOR COVID 19

 

Honeyman Group Limited of Barnard Castle, County Durham, announces the introduction of a high accuracy, rapid turnaround COVID-19 antibody testing service across the UK and Ireland. In addition to PCR screening for active COVID-19 infection, Honeyman has partnered with Quotient Limited to launch a new, highly sensitive antibody test utilising Quotient’s high-throughput MosaiQ™ platform.

I know.

[chud]

46 minutes ago, MR-E said:

MEDICAL GUIDANCE

ISSUED BY THE AUSTRALIAN HEALTH AUTHORITY- 

 

it's only since 'health authorities' sneakily made absolutely ALL health conditions 'viral diseases' including the slightest and most common COLD ()...

[MR-E]

SWISS POLICY RESEARCH STUDY

Are Face Masks Effective? The Evidence.

FOR THOSE SEEKING ANSWERS !

Published: July 30, 2020; Updated: August 9, 2020
Share on: Twitter / Facebook

An overview of the current evidence regarding the effectiveness of face masks.

1. Studies on the effectiveness of face masks

So far, most studies found little to no evidence for the effectiveness of cloth face masks in the general population, neither as personal protective equipment nor as a source control.

1. A May 2020 meta-study on pandemic influenza published by the US CDC found that face masks had no effect, neither as personal protective equipment nor as a source control. (Source)
2. A July 2020 review by the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medince found that there is no evidence for the effectiveness of cloth masks against virus infection or transmission. (Source)
3. A Covid-19 cross-country study by the University of East Anglia found that a mask requirement was of no benefit and could even increase the risk of infection. (Source)
4. An April 2020 review by two US professors in respiratory and infectious disease from the University of Illinois concluded that face masks have no effect in everyday life, neither as self-protection nor to protect third parties (so-called source control). (Source)
5. An article in the New England Journal of Medicine from May 2020 came to the conclusion that cloth face masks offer little to no protection in everyday life. (Source)
6. An April 2020 Cochrane review (preprint) found that face masks in the general population or health care workers didn’t reduce influenza-like illness (ILI) cases. (Source)
7. An April 2020 review by the Norwich School of Medicine (preprint) found that “the evidence is not sufficiently strong to support widespread use of facemasks”, but supports the use of masks by “particularly vulnerable individuals when in transient higher risk situations.” (Source)
8. A July 2020 study by Japanese researchers found that cloth masks “offer zero protection against coronavirus” due to their large pore size and generally poor fit. (Source)
9. A 2015 study in the British Medical Journal BMJ Open found that cloth masks were penetrated by 97% of particles and may increase infection risk by retaining moisture or repeated use. (Source)

Additional aspects

1. Japan, despite its widespread use of face masks, experienced its most recent influenza epidemic with more than 5 million people falling ill just one year ago, in January and February 2019. However, unlike SARS-2, the influenza virus is transmitted by children, too.
2. Many countries and US states that introduced mandatory face masks on public transport and in shops in spring or early summer, such as Argentina and California, nevertheless saw a strong increase in infections from July onwards, indicating a low effectiveness of mask policies.
3. There is increasing evidence that the SARS-2 coronavirus is transmitted, at least in certain indoor settings, not only by droplets but also by smaller aerosols. However, due to their large pore size and poor fit, cloth masks cannot filter out aerosols.
4. The WHO admitted to the BBC that its June 2020 mask policy update was due not to new evidence but “political lobbying”: “We had been told by various sources WHO committee reviewing the evidence had not backed masks but they recommended them due to political lobbying. This point was put to WHO who did not deny.” (D. Cohen, BBC Medical Corresponent)
5. Contrary to common belief, studies in hospitals found that the wearing of a medical face mask by surgeons during operations didn’t reduce post-operative bacterial wound infections in patients.
6. In children, the risk of Covid-19 disease and transmission is very low – much lower than for influenza – and face masks for children are therefore not indicated in any circumstances.
7. During the notorious 1918 influenza pandemic, the use of cloth face masks was widespread among the general population, but they made no difference.

2. Studies claiming face masks are effective

Some recent studies argued that cloth face masks are indeed effective against the new coronavirus and could at least prevent the infection of other people. However, most of these studies suffer from poor methodology and sometimes show the opposite of what they claim.

Typically, these studies ignore the effect of other measures, the natural development of infection numbers, changes in test activity, or they compare countries with very different conditions.

An overview:

1. A German study claimed that the introduction of compulsory masks in German cities had led to a decrease in infections. But the data does not support this: in some cities there was no change, in others a decrease, in others an increase in infections (see graph below). The city of Jena was an ‘exception’ only because it simultaneously introduced the strictest quarantine rules in Germany, but the study did not mention this.
2. A study in the journal PNAS claimed that masks had led to a decrease in infections in three global hotspots (including New York City). This did not take into account the natural decrease in infections and other measures. The study was so flawed that over 40 scientists recommended that the study be withdrawn.
3. A US study claimed that mandatory masks had led to a decrease in infections in 15 states. The study did not take into account that the incidence of infection was already declining in most states at that time. A comparison with other states was not made.
4. A Canadian study claimed that countries with mandatory masks had fewer deaths than countries without mandatory masks. But the study compared African, Latin American, Asian and Eastern European countries with very different infection rates and population structures.
5. A much-cited meta-study in the journal Lancet claimed that masks “could” lead to a reduction in the risk of infection, but the studies considered mainly medical masks in a hospital setting, not cloth masks in a community setting, and the strength of the evidence was reported as “low”.

Mandatory masks in German cities: no relevant impact. (IZA 2020)

3. Risks associated with face masks

Wearing masks for a prolonged period of time is not harmless, as the following evidence shows:

1. The WHO warns of various “side effects” such as difficulty breathing and skin rashes.
2. Tests conducted by the University Hospital of Leipzig in Germany have shown that face masks significantly reduce the resilience and performance of healthy persons.
3. A German psychological study with about 1000 participants found “severe psychosocial consequences” due to the introduction of mandatory face masks in Germany.
4. The Hamburg Environmental Institute warned of the inhalation of chlorine compounds in polyester masks as well as problems in connection with face mask disposal.
5. The European rapid alert system RAPEX has already recalled 70 mask models because they did not meet EU quality standards and could lead to “serious risks”.
6. In China, two boys who had to wear a mask during sports classes fainted and died.
7. In the US, a car driver wearing an N95 (FFP2) mask fainted and crashed into a pole.

Conclusion

Cloth face masks in the general population might be effective, at least in some circumstances, but there is currently little to no evidence supporting this proposition. If the SARS-2 virus is indeed transmitted via aerosols, at least indoors, cloth masks are unlikely to be protective.

See also

[shadowmoon]

I wonder  how many who said "I  won't  wear one!" raised  their white flag and didn't  have  the  courage of  their convictions?

One of my neighbours  definitely so, a few weeks before,  she told me "I  will not wear one ever" and I  saw her in the shop masked..

[Number6]

More craziness, you just can't make it up. I have been following conspiracy  stuff now since about 2009. All this nonsense is going to send me barking mad. There is no logic to it at all and people are just happy to go along with it. I am losing all hope that we will be able to turn this around, ffs. 

 

[BlueSky]

On 8/10/2020 at 9:01 AM, shadowmoon said:

Depending on  your character..I found I was apprehensive at first.

Expecting to get into a fight or something.. what I found was you just get left alone, you might get some looks from 'them', but they are in fear mind anyway and that is their own responsibility.

I did it! Twice! :-D. I was planning on just going in coming home, but I went before as well, like you said quieter in the morning, test it out. No one said a thing both times. I didn't feel any glaring either. I noticed one member of staff not wearing one. A couple of staff with those visors on. But no other customers without one. Didn't go around the whole shop though.Everything still been ok on your shopping trips?

Edited August 11, 2020 by BlueSky

[BlueSky]

On 8/7/2020 at 11:25 PM, BlueSky said:

Thank you. It says public areas in hotels. Whether that means staff as well I don't know. I will find out on Tuesday.

 

Updated below today:

 

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/face-coverings-when-to-wear-one-and-how-to-make-your-own/face-coverings-when-to-wear-one-and-how-to-make-your-own

My workplace isn't insisting staff wear them. So at last a bit of pushback! 

[shadowmoon]

31 minutes ago, BlueSky said:

I did it! Twice! :-D. I was planning on just going in coming home, but I went before as well, like you said quieter in the morning, test it out. No one said a thing both times. I didn't feel any glaring either. I noticed one member of staff not wearing one. A couple of staff with those visors on. But no other customers without one. Didn't go around the whole shop though.Everything still been ok on your shopping trips?

 

Good for you!

I went earlier this morning, don't know why but the urge to eat  kippers for breakfast came upon me... staff all masked except for two of them, customers  all masked except for me.

We are the dissidents, the rebels and  the outlaws.

[Shy Talk]

1 hour ago, Number6 said:

More craziness, you just can't make it up. I have been following conspiracy  stuff now since about 2009. All this nonsense is going to send me barking mad. There is no logic to it at all and people are just happy to go along with it. I am losing all hope that we will be able to turn this around, ffs. 

 

 

The childlike gullibility shown by the vast majority of the general public when it comes to this farce makes it feel as though we're living in a gigantic episode of Beadle's About. Waiting for someone to whip off a false beard and shout 'Gotcha'. The much-missed presenter is probably looking down on all this from somewhere with a wry smile on his face.

[BlueSky]

7 minutes ago, shadowmoon said:

 

Good for you!

I went earlier this morning, don't know why but the urge to eat  kippers for breakfast came upon me... staff all masked except for two of them, customers  all masked except for me.

We are the dissidents, the rebels and  the outlaws.

Hope you enjoyed your kippers! I just put on Pearl Jam - Dissident. funnily enough there's a sheep on the album cover.

 

 

 

[shadowmoon]

2 minutes ago, Shy Talk said:

makes it feel as though we're living in a gigantic episode of Beadle's About. Waiting for someone to whip off a false beard and shout 'Gotcha'.

Definitely felt the same..

 

 

 

 

 

[CyprusAvenue]

Good work today @BlueSky and @shadowmoon and my supermarket visit saw me being almost the only rebel as on my exit noticed another 'facially naked' at the self-serve check out.  Nobody said a word fortunately.  Then, surprise surprise, adult daughter phoned and said she's decided it's all a hoax and won't wear a mask.  Wasn't expecting that I can tell you!

[shadowmoon]

2 hours ago, CyprusAvenue said:

Good work today @BlueSky and @shadowmoon and my supermarket visit saw me being almost the only rebel as on my exit noticed another 'facially naked' at the self-serve check out.  Nobody said a word fortunately.  Then, surprise surprise, adult daughter phoned and said she's decided it's all a hoax and won't wear a mask.  Wasn't expecting that I can tell you!

 

Saw a few people  getting  on the bus maskless earlier, mainly older 60+ women. I imagine it's way too hot to wear one on a bus even with the windows open, so they are showing sense and looking after their health.

 

Good for your daughter, wish my sister wasn't  such a bedwetting maskoid.

[sickofallthebollocks]

The Dailymayelle are at it again, very quick to show the worst that humanity has to offer, and to try to persuade us that unless we obey then 'not wearing a mask' could result in a physical assault, in this clip, the white man has just had a go at the black man, and he is having none of it.

Dailyslime reports:

Shocking moment fist fight breaks out on packed London train ‘over passenger not wearing a face mask’

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8615941/Shocking-moment-fist-fight-breaks-packed-London-train-face-mask.html?ito=push-notification&ci=27600&si=14368430

 

 

Ps.  Don't let this put you off NOT wearing a face nappie - complete pricks like the white man in the video are rare. 
 

 

 

Edited August 11, 2020 by sickofallthebollocks
add comment on below picture

[anomie]

2 hours ago, sickofallthebollocks said:

 

 

Ps.  Don't let this put you off NOT wearing a face nappie - complete pricks like the white man in the video are rare. 
 

 

 

 

It won't - because it again highlights another glaring hypocrisy I'm seeing with these attacks.

 

I do not understand the logic of the more violent natured individuals.....

 

"hey, this person isn't wearing a mask!"

 

"What are they doing?! Don't they realise they're going to infect everyone and kill all the OAPs"

 

" I know the best plan of action....I'm going to start a fight with them and smother my body and exposed limbs into this person as much as possible, it's okay.....masks prevent bacteria and viruses from being *anywhere* on my body... "

 

IDIOTS!

 

Also don't know about you guys but I've noticed that now that the mask thing is in full force, where has social distancing gone? No-one cares anymore........

 

Masks....the illusion of safety

Edited August 11, 2020 by anomie

[sickofallthebollocks]

Power to the welsh:

The least likely to wear a mask during a fake pandemic

See here:
https://www.aol.co.uk/news/2020/08/11/people-in-wales-least-likely-to-wear-face-coverings-according-t/

 

(although it is a yougov poll which means absolutely fuck all.
But if, by the off chance , it is a true reflection, then good on you wales!

[Storm in the garden]

A couple of things myself and my daughters noticed about complying/ non compliance to the mask rules. This isn't definitive but merely casual observation.

1.Mask compliance is much more evident in middle class areas than in working class areas.

2. Eastern Europeans from the likes of Poland and Latvia don't seem to be complying at all. In fact, in general they seem to be much more clued in regarding healthy living in general.

 

Is this just particular to Ireland or have other areas noticed similar?

[zarkov]

Eastern europeans understand communism - pleased we have many here. Their virtue signalling will help with the pushback.

 

 

[Storm in the garden]

3 hours ago, zarkov said:

Eastern europeans understand communism - pleased we have many here. Their virtue signalling will help with the pushback.

 

 

 

Yes the communism aspect occurred to me too, so they would be much more aware of any control mechanisms being introduced.

They take more pride in their appearance than us Irish and the always appear to be fit and healthy. I've never seen an overweight Eastern European.

I had a delivery the other day and the driver was Eastern European. He immediately spotted that I was propagating plants, and started asking me about what I was growing and the soil condition. It turns out that he lives in the city but has an allotment. He said that "to grow your own food is very important for the future".

[Mr H]

15 hours ago, sickofallthebollocks said:

The Dailymayelle are at it again, very quick to show the worst that humanity has to offer, and to try to persuade us that unless we obey then 'not wearing a mask' could result in a physical assault, in this clip, the white man has just had a go at the black man, and he is having none of it.

Dailyslime reports:

Shocking moment fist fight breaks out on packed London train ‘over passenger not wearing a face mask’

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8615941/Shocking-moment-fist-fight-breaks-packed-London-train-face-mask.html?ito=push-notification&ci=27600&si=14368430

 

 

Ps.  Don't let this put you off NOT wearing a face nappie - complete pricks like the white man in the video are rare. 
 

 

 

 

I'm most likely going to have to go back to the commuter lifestyle next month. 

 

I get the train in from Essex, there's a lot of these types on the line. 

 

Despite being a bit of a giant (I don't think size would matter to these folks anyways), I am a man of peace and have no idea how I would react to this type of confrontation.

 

I have to admit, I'm seriously anxious about it...

 

Deep breath

[shadowmoon]

Saw a lady I used to work with this morning, we had a chat and she said after I said I wont wear them... "You have to wear masks in shops."

I was going to say different & then I thought "What is the point?"

Really is it worth saying anything now?

[sickofallthebollocks]

6 minutes ago, shadowmoon said:

Saw a lady I used to work with this morning, we had a chat and she said after I said I wont wear them... "You have to wear masks in shops."

I was going to say different & then I thought "What is the point?"

Really is it worth saying anything now?

I hear you shadowmoon, you know a loss cause when you see one don't you.

[shadowmoon]

1 minute ago, sickofallthebollocks said:

I hear you shadowmoon, you know a loss cause when you see one don't you.

 

shame because she's a good friend. she tells me "I have to wear it for 8 hours at the tills." I started to say "No you don't.. " And then I just checked myself and left it.

[sickofallthebollocks]

7 minutes ago, shadowmoon said:

 

shame because she's a good friend. she tells me "I have to wear it for 8 hours at the tills." I started to say "No you don't.. " And then I just checked myself and left it.

Yeah well done - at least you got your point accross, I would say about half the staff at my local supermarket don't have one on - it just seems common sense to us doesn't it?  Maybe she will come to her senses sooner or later.   And the rest of the UK
(out of likes till this evening)

[shadowmoon]

18 minutes ago, sickofallthebollocks said:

Yeah well done - at least you got your point accross, I would say about half the staff at my local supermarket don't have one on - it just seems common sense to us doesn't it?  Maybe she will come to her senses sooner or later.   And the rest of the UK
(out of likes till this evening)

 

What was interesting was she told me that the staff were all told they  HAD to wear one for the first week in store after the mandatory bs came out..!

 

I can imagine that the majority of companies were forcing this policy on staff.?