Originally Posted by
jetlaggy
I wonder what factors kept the flu rate so low.
Exactly. The argument isn't that masks don't work. Its that weak, unenforced mask MANDATES in the US were no more effective than general peer pressure.
Mask mandates with teeth in Australia and NZ wiped out the virus, but here with all the chinstraps and very thin "compliance masks" (which did nothing), we saw half of all global covid deaths pre vaccine in the USA.
All that said masks in the US slowed the virus, its doubling rate was slashed by a factor of 4 thanks to all the people shaming these morons and doing the right thing themselves. Many lives were saved.