No evidence masks made any difference

Cochrane review delayed while mask mandates were imposed

- ROB T

HAPPILY, since the start of 2023 when it seemed a concerted media push was in play to bring back widespread forced masking in the UK, things have improved considerably.

Perhaps surprisingly, after three years during which the strange mask obsession had proved completely impervious to evidence and common sense, the latest version of the Cochrane review actually seems to have made a dent with 'Team Mask'.

Indeed it must have done if even hyper-aggressive mask cheerleader the New York Times has given up the fight.

In a piece for the paper headlined The Mask Mandates Did Nothing. Will Any Lessons Be Learned? Bret Stephens writes:

"The most rigorous and comprehensive analysis of scientific studies conducted on the efficacy of masks for reducing the spread of respiratory illnesses including covid-19 - was published late last month. Its conclusions, said Tom Jefferson, the Oxford epidemiologist who is its lead author, were unambiguous.

"There is just no evidence that they" - masks "make any difference," he told the journalist Maryanne Demasi.

"Full stop." But, wait, hold on. What about N-95 masks, as opposed to lower-quality surgical or cloth masks?