|
> The best available data from randomized controlled trials shows a minimal effect. Be careful what you are arguing that these trials show: whether masks, when worn properly, work, or whether mask mandates work. Because a randomized study that shows that mask mandates work, which has been shown (the best example I am aware of is the study from India), would necessarily mean that properly worn masks would need to be much more effective than the effect size from a mask mandate study, because of course tons of people under a mask mandate still don't wear masks, or wear them as chin warmers, or never wash them, etc. So I'm always curious that when a mask mandate study shows minimal, but significant, effectiveness, that the response isn't "See, masks work, even when a ton of people still don't wear them or wear them haphazardly" as opposed to "masks hardly work". |
The RCTs have been for masks themselves, not for mandates (this gets a little complicated because of compliance and intention-to-treat analysis, but it's basically true; the researchers were testing masks themselves, not rules surrounding masks). If the masks don't have strong evidence, I don't expect mandates to make the situation better.