[anarazel]

> Enforcement is the state forcing its will on you eliminating the individual’s ability to evaluate risk.

Except that the primary benefit of masks wrt covid is to significantly reduce the likelihood of the wearer to spread covid (by reducing how much spit escapes ones mouth). So the decision to wear/not wear is not directly about the decider's risk, it's about societal risk.

[blisseyGo]

That's a myth which keeps getting repeated. I posted multiple studies which debunk it:

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=23825646

[anarazel]

They don't debunk anything.

The last study you quote says "this highlights the importance of safety practices including face masks and ocular contact precautions in preventing the spread of COVID-19 disease.". Another is a meta-study of very few low quality studies. The osha guidelines are essentially just explaining that respirators are important in some settings, which nobody serious doubts. Another just determines that respirators are more effective than cloth masks. Doh.

Just quoting a bunch of half related studies doesn't make a fact.

[blisseyGo]

How is it half related? The first study I cited states:

> There is limited evidence for their effectiveness in preventing influenza virus transmission either when worn by the infected person for source control or when worn by uninfected persons to reduce exposure.

I cited multiple studies. No idea where your "bunch of half related studies" is coming from. Your comment comes off as condescending.

[yodon]

Journal of the American Medical Association has a more recent publication on this question with current results from Covid-19 data as opposed to earlier viruses[0]. Their conclusion is the same as the consensus conclusion here on HN, that masks can play a significant role in preventing the spread of Covid-19.

[0] https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2768532