[chlodwig]

Cloth masks are effective in preventing covid in the same way that "the rhythm method is effective at preventing pregnancy." Which is to say it reduces the probability a small amount, but not nearly enough to justify a person treating it as an effective prophylactic. So it depends on what your definition of "effective" is, but it seems to me more like disinformation to call cloth masks or rhythm method "effective" than to say they are not effective.

[Bud]

You're leaving out over half of the truth, here. The idea behind universal masking is that EVERYONE is wearing the masks. In other words, the person who might infect you is masked (and cloth masks DO work very well to prevent that person from spewing droplets everywhere), and also, you are wearing a mask too. You are leaving out that first part of the equation, which is the most important part.

It's also the part that "Rand" Paul is undermining.

[nradov]

Most people aren't going to be willing to wear masks forever. Compliance is already quite low in most places. Especially in private homes where much of the viral transmission occurs.

[xienze]

> and cloth masks DO work very well to prevent that person from spewing droplets everywhere

But Covid doesn’t spread exclusively through “droplets”, it’s aerosolized. It’s present in an infected person’s breath, which will escape a mask.

[mixmastamyk]

There’s your answer in the question, why you used the word “exclusively.”

[seanicus]

Well the problem is that people who are purveying information in this country at large - but especially between Paul and his base - is a lack of nuance. Calling cloth masks or "OTC" masks ineffective, esp. w/o pointing out that n95 masks are effective is over the line between disingenuous and lying imo.

[Covzire]

just how small is that small amount for a group of people in a small room for an hour at a time?