"Unmasking Masks: The Science Behind Mask Efficacy" - September 2020 - with Suhayb Yunus
Channel: Streets of Vancouver
Date: 2020-09-26

I'm sharing this video in hope that it gets more traction/'shares' because the  information in it is great. This is also shared in the interest of education and public discussion/debate. Enclosed is the truly superb list of academic sources that Suhayb Yunus provides: https://youtu.be/Pi_FIzXvj1I

"Once again, I agree with Knut Wittkowski: Masks are, best case scenario, nothing more than a slobbering, obsequious genuflection to authority. My phrasing may be a bit more colorful than his, however. They don't work and are probably harmful. In another video maybe we'll talk about how they affect us psychologically and socially.  

I forgot to mention it in the video, but there's a link to little number line at the end of the video charting mask efficacy you may find helpful.

Here are some articles. 24, I think. There's plenty more all saying the same thing if you're willing to look. I generally don't encourage abstract reading alone, but do what you can. If you can't read each article in its entirety, at least pass them around to people who want to.

Bae, Seongman, Kim, Min-Chal, et al. “Effectiveness of Surgical Masks in Blocking Sars-Cov-2: A Controlled Comparison in 4 Patients.” Annals of Internal Medicine.

Britton, Philip, Isaacs David, Outthred, Alexander, et al. “Do Masks Potect Against COVID-19?” J Paediatr Child Health. 110 Jun; 56(6): 976-977. Published online 2020 Jun 16. Doi:10.1111/jpc.14936.

Brousseau, Lisa, Sietsema, Margaret. “PUJ Commentary: Masks-for-all for COVID-19 not Based on Sound Data.” CIDRAP. UMN. 2020.

Cabera and Cabera. “Human Factors Expert: Masks May Increase Business Liability.” Alachua Chronicle. https://www.alachuachronicle.com/huma.... 

Cabera and Cabera. “Research does not Support Face Mask Orders.” Alachua Chronicile. https://www.alachuachronicle.com/rese....

Chughtai, AA., MacIntyre, CR., Rahman, B., et al. “The Efficacy of Medical Masks and Respirators Against Respiratory Infections in Healthcare Workers.” Influenza and Other Respi Viruses. 2017; 11: 511-517. https://doi.org/10.111/irv.12474. 

Dang, TC, MacIntrye, CR, Seale, HR, et al. “A Cluster Randomized Trial of Cloth Masks Compared with Medical Masks in Healthcare Workers.” BMJ Open 2015, 5: e006577. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2014-006577.

Desai, Anal, Mehrota Preeti. “Medical Masks.” JAMA.  2020; 323 (15): 1517-1518. doi: 10.1001/jama/2020.2331.
Gao M, Yang C, et al. A study on infectivity of asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 carriers. Respir Med. 2020; 169:106026. doi: 10.1016/j.med.2020.106026.

Jayaweera, M., Perera, H., Gunawardana, B., Manatunge, J. .“Transmission of COVID-19 virus by droplets and aerosolsL A critical review on the unresolved dichotomy.” Environmental research vol. 188 (2020): 109819. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2020.... 

Jung, H. Kim, JK, Kim J, Lee, J, Lee, S, Tsai, P, Yoon, C. “Comparison of Filtration Efficiency and Pressure Drop in Anti-Yellow Sand Masks, Quarantine Masks, Medical Masks, General Masks, an Handkerchiefs.” Aerosol Air Qual. Res. 2014. 14:9911-1002.https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.2013.06.....

Karali, Dimitra, Loupa, Glykeria, Rapsomaniis, Spyridon. “Aerosol Filtering Efficiency of Respiratory Face Masks Used During the COVID-19 Pandemic.”  Doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.07.16.20....

Klompas, M, Morris, C, Sinclair, J, et al. “Universal Masking in Hospitals in the Covid-19 Era.” N Engl J Med 2020; 382:263. doi: 10.1056/NEJMp2006372.

Leung, NHL., Chu, DKW., Shu, EYC., et al. “Respiratory Virus Shedding in exhaled Breath and Efficacy of Face Masks. Nat Med 26, 676-680 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/341591-020-08....

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine 2020. Rapid Expert Consultation on the Effectiveness of Fabric Masks for the CIVD-19 Pandemic (April 8, 2020). Washington DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/25776.

Rancourt, Dennis. “Masks Don’t Work: A Review of the Science Relevant to COVID-19 Social Policy.”

Rapid Response to: Face Masks for the Public During the Covid-19 Crisis. BMJ 2020; 369: M1435.

Tunevall, TG. Post-operative Wound Infection and Surgical Facemasks: A Controlled Study. Worl J. Surg. 15, 383-387. 1991. https://doi.ing/10.1007/BF01658736.

Von Csefalvay, Chris. “Mask Wars.” City Journal. https://www.city-journal.org/reality-....

World Health Organization. (2020). Advice on the Use of Masks in the Context of COVID-19: Interim Guidance. 6 April 2020. World Health Organization. https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/1066....

World Health Organization. (2020). “When and How to Use Masks.” World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/emergencies/diese... 

Xiao, J., Siu, E., Gaio, H., Wong, J.Y, et al. Nonpharmaceutical Measures for Pandemic Influenza in Nonhelahtcare Settings – Personal Protective and Environmental Measures. Emerging Infectious Diseases. 2020;26(5): 967-975. Doi:10.3201/eid2605.190994.

Yle. “Report: Little or No Benefit to Widespread Mask Use.” Yle. 2020. https://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/re....