Since the beginning of the Great Pandemic CDC and Tony Fauci told us that a “mask” would prevent the transmission of SARS-Cov-2. The Surgeon General of the United States even showed us how to make one at home. In fact CDC was certain that the home made cloth mask would keep you safe from SARS-CoV-2 and the scourge of COVID-19 that it caused:
Multi-layer cloth masks block release of exhaled respiratory particles into the environment,3-6 along with any microorganisms associated with these particles.7, 8 Cloth masks not only effectively block most large droplets (i.e., 20-30 microns and larger),9 but they can also block the exhalation of fine droplets and particles (also often referred to as aerosols) smaller than 10 microns3, 5 which increase in number with the volume of speech10-12 and specific types of phonation.13 Multi-layer cloth masks can both block 50-70% of these fine droplets and particles3, 14 and limit the forward spread of those that are not captured.5, 6, 15, 16 Upwards of 80% blockage has been achieved in human experiments,4 with cloth masks in some studies performing on par with surgical masks as barriers for source control.3, 9, 14, 17 In one study, conducted prior to widespread circulation of the Delta variant, masks worked equally well for blocking aerosolized particles containing both “wild-type” virus and the Alpha variant (a more infectious variant).17
But when there was a tremendous spike in cases of COVID-19 between December 2020 and January 2021 and virtually every American was “masked” and locked down we should have collectively said: “Whoa! You told us that masks worked.”
AND, some did say that but the media quickly pointed out that the spike in cases was really due to their wonton disregard of the “mandate” to not visit granny at thanksgiving, Chanukah, and Christmas or to wear a mask.
Then there was Delta — the variant that was sure to do us in if we refused to mask and isolate. The masks came back and the variant raged on. By that time Americans were vaccinating as quickly as we could (but not all of us) to prevent the spread. We were told that the vaccine would do that; that is until CDC discovered that the wonder vaccine wasn’t quite as wondrous as they thought.
CDC now told all of the vaccinated that in order to protect themselves from the “unvaccinated” mask wearing must continue.
As reports from around the world and CDC’s own data began to demonstrate masks were not preventing the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the CDC continued to blame “unvaccinated, non-mask wearing” individuals who were Trump cultists or were anti-science or who had no social conscience. Follow the science gave way to following the demands of a “woke” society.
In the meantime CDC reported that the cloth mask that they told America it could rely on was a failure: “The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention finally acknowledge Friday what many experts have warned for months: cloth masks are not as effective in protecting against COVID-19 as respirators or surgical masks.” January 14, 2022
This revelation comes just as the white house announced that it will be sending 400 million N-95 respirators across the nation to combat the Omicron variant infections from which have already begun decreasing.
An N-95 respirator is a true Filtering Face Piece respirator which has been in use in multiple work places for decades and which falls under the jurisdiction of federal law enforceable by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration which is the only federal entity with the authority to require its wearing and only in workplaces under its jurisdiction.
Among the legal restriction applicable to the wearing of the N-95 respirator are the requirement that its manufacture be certified by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health or the Mine Safety and Health Administration and that it must not be worn with facial hair which interferes with a proper face seal.
So guys — all of you nicely bearded gentlemen who are doing your civic and wearing an N-95 respirator — start shaving.
Everyone else — as you were.
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