Originally Posted by Mesabah

Four months of no mask usage produced 2 possible cases, and six months of mask usage produced no cases. Good thing the media scared all the passengers away.

Originally Posted by Gloriousprofits

Too bad we don’t have a state run media so the narrative could be controlled like NK and PRC. This free press really is the enemy of the people.

Originally Posted by Seneca Pilot

Medical professionals have confirmed that the virus is airborne, can float in the air for long periods of time, and does not need droplets for transmission. Attempting to use cloth masks to stop an airborne virus that is only 100NM on average is just as useless using a condom when spanking your monkey. Masks made sense when the belief was that the virus was only transmitted on droplets. That is no longer the case.

This virus is airborne therefore we will all eventually get it. No vaccine has ever been successful against corona viruses. It is time to get away from the mask and lockdown theater and live life. Protect the old and infirmed to your best ability by distancing and with early and aggressive treatment but masks and lockdowns do nothing.

Originally Posted by germanaviator

I think it should be pretty obvious that masks do make a difference. Everyone I now who got infected (and can trace that infection back to its likely origin) got it from close contact with another infected person who did not wear a mask. My brother from his date, my co-worker and his nine friends from après-ski partying in Austria, and similar.

I have been everywhere in Europe in the last six months including all of the early hot spots such as Northern Italy and Madrid for example. I have been wearing masks indoors in public spaces, kept my distance to strangers where possible and washed hands regularly. I recently had a negative antibody test result so I have been able to avoid catching the virus despite a lot of traveling, including pretty full airline cabins. But: Everyone was wearing their masks at least most of the time.

Whenever larger outbreaks are traced back to their source, here in my country those often originate from events were people meet without masks such as birthday parties or going out at night, drinking and letting their guard down.

It does not make sense to compare one area where masks have been worn with other areas where masks have not been worn. It would only make sense to compare the same area over the same time period with and without masks. But that is not possible.

I'm sure if we look at where people get infected it will be where people are in close contact for more than a few brief moments, not wearing masks. And that happens in places where masks are required public. Young people or families meeting for private parties will do it. In my country the top experts in the field pretty much agree that mask do make a difference as most transmissions are through aerosols and droplets and not surfaces. My personal experiences and observations fall in line with that scientific consensus. To that end I think it would be absolutely irresponsible to not require masks on aircraft as long as there is no vaccine and/or pre-boarding testing. The empty middle seat also helps because when an infected person sitting next to you coughs or sneezes then whatever makes it passed the mask will come out mostly to the sides. Cabin air ventilation and filtration are all good things but have limited to no effect towards protecting from an infected seat neighbor.

I'm not living in fear, before anyone throws that argument at me. I'm not paranoid. I'm not even scared about getting this. But I do feel that we have a responsibility towards the more vulnerable. If wearing masks and perhaps even keeping middle seats empty for a while helps getting people back into airplanes and keeping all passengers reasonably safe from infection then why condemn it. Those who say masks don't work: Please show your evidence. Sure, some masks are better than others. But to say masks don't work is at the very least a gross oversimplification and probably plain wrong.

Originally Posted by Gloriousprofits

Too bad we don’t have a state run media so the narrative could be controlled like NK and PRC. This free press really is the enemy of the people.

Originally Posted by velosnow

Not correct, there were two cases of suspected transmission prior to masks being worn on planes early on. Since then, no cases have been shown to have occurred since mask usage was widely adopted. And the defense dept's recent study concluded masks are an integral part of it.

https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/risk...ry?id=73616599

Originally Posted by Mesabah

Four months of no mask usage produced 2 possible cases, and six months of mask usage produced no cases. Good thing the media scared all the passengers away.

Originally Posted by WhistlePig

Thanks doctor. By the way, I have a V-tailed Bonanza to sell you.

Originally Posted by velosnow

Ahh yes, the ol' evil media line. What part of the study do you need assistance with understanding?

Originally Posted by Nacho Libre

This post makes sense to me. Interesting when a well thought out post gets zero response.