That was a long @$$ article for someone like me😂. To make sure I read correctly, the study measured the effectiveness of someone with the virus wearing a mask and coughing? Then it provides stats on the the ability (or inability) of the masks to effectively filter the virus to prevent it from spreading?
What about those without the virus that are wearing the masks to prevent themselves from contracting the virus? Is it effective in that sense? Sorry if I missed something🤙🤙
There are a ton of articles out there on the lack of protection from contracting the virus for surgical mask wearers.
When a doctor or nurse goes into an operating room or ER, they wear masks to prevent infecting the patient, not to prevent contracting anything themselves. If they were afraid of contracting something, they would be wearing full protective suits and helmets with no outside air able to get to them.
Unless the mask is rated N95 or better AND properly fits AND is being properly worn and taken off to avoid contamination, anything less is not reducing the risk enough to use them in lieu of other, at least as effective measures like social distancing and hand washing.
I'm not saying the masks have zero benefit for the wearers, but the SARS-CoV-2 virus is unlikely to be stopped effectively if you come into contact with an infected person.
If the presence of masked people makes someone more likely to get closer than 6 feet, or to ignore washing hands and clothing or casually touching their faces, because the masks are supposed to stop the virus, they can do more harm than good.