Masking

This page refers specifically to wearing face masks that reduce the risk of contamination by disease, mold, dust, pollution, and smoke.Community Respirators and Masks, CDC These masks can also be worn as a courtesy when you are sick to reduce the risk of infecting other people.
This is not to be confused with the concept of masking in personality and neurodivergence.
==The Science ==
Research shows that face mask usage, especially N95/KN95 usage, significantly reduces the risk of testing positive for COVID-19.Andrejko KL, Pry JM, Myers JF, et al. Effectiveness of Face Mask or Respirator Use in Indoor Public Settings for Prevention of SARS-CoV-2 Infection — California, February–December 2021. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2022;71:212–216. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7106e1.Liang M, Gao L, Cheng C, Zhou Q, Uy JP, Heiner K, Sun C. Efficacy of face mask in preventing respiratory virus transmission: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Travel Med Infect Dis. 2020 Jul-Aug;36:101751. doi: 10.1016/j.tmaid.2020.101751. Epub 2020 May 28. PMID: 32473312; PMCID: PMC7253999.Masks save lives: Here's what you need to know, Harvard Health"Meta-analyses suggest that mask use provided a significant protective effect (OR = 0.35 and 95% CI = 0.24–0.51). Use of masks by healthcare workers (HCWs) and non-healthcare workers (Non-HCWs) can reduce the risk of respiratory virus infection by 80% (OR = 0.20, 95% CI = 0.11–0.37) and 47% (OR = 0.53, 95% CI = 0.36–0.79) [respectively]." Liang et al.
"When used with measures such as getting vaccinated, hand-washing and physical distancing, wearing a face mask slows how quickly the virus that causes COVID-19 spreads." Mayo ClinicHow well do face masks protect against COVID-19?Willingness to wear masks during the pandemic was associated with agreeableness (a trait which includes compassion for others). People who refused to masks had lower agreeableness and higher Dark Triad (Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and narcissistic rivalry) traits.Zajenkowski M, Jonason PK, Leniarska M, Kozakiewicz Z. Who complies with the restrictions to reduce the spread of COVID-19?: Personality and perceptions of the COVID-19 situation. Pers Individ Dif. 2020 Nov 1;166:110199. doi: 10.1016/j.paid.2020.110199. Epub 2020 Jun 16. PMID: 32565591; PMCID: PMC7296320.
==Criticism==
Some right-wing people viewed COVID protections as an affront to their liberty.Mark these words: I) **anything** that targets the surrender of liberty to concentrate power will now be recast as a “public health” issue. Speech as health. Choice as health. News as health. Freak yourself out: complete the list & then watch it unfold. This exploit will spread.--- Eric Weinstein, twitter.com.@EricRWeinstein.
== - ==
Human biology; Disease
Faciality; Cover; Masking_as_religious; Clarity; Fidelity; Survival masking
== References ==
Category:Disease
Category:Human biology
Category:Politics
Category:Safety
Category:Political left