SOURCE: BuriedTruth.com, 2020-10-18
This page last modified: 2020-11-11 09:52:29 -0800 (PST)
This article is a stub [additional content pending ...].
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SOURCE: Wikipedia, 2020-10-18
This page last modified: 2020-11-11 09:52:29 -0800 (PST)
See also: Face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic
Although authorities, especially in Asia, recommended wearing face masks in public, in other parts of the world conflicting advice caused confusion among the general population. Several governments and institutions, such as in the United States, initially dismissed the use of face masks by the general population, often with misleading or incomplete information about their effectiveness. Commentators have attributed the anti-mask messaging to efforts to manage the mask shortages, as governments did not act quickly enough, remarking that the claims go beyond the science or were simply lies.
In February 2020, U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams tweeted "Seriously people -- STOP BUYING MASKS! They are NOT effective in preventing general public from catching #Coronavirus," but he later reversed his position with evidence mounting that masks can limit the spread of coronavirus. On 12 June 2020, Anthony Fauci, a key member of the White House coronavirus task force, confirmed that the American public were not told to wear masks from the beginning due to the shortage of masks and explained that masks do actually work.
Some media outlets claimed that neck gaiters were worse than not wearing masks at all in the COVID-19 pandemic, misinterpreting a study which was intended to demonstrate a method for evaluating masks (and not actually to determine the effectiveness of different types of masks). The study also only looked at one wearer wearing the one neck gaiter made from a polyester/spandex blend, which is not sufficient evidence to support the claim about gaiters made in the media. The study found that the neck gaiter, which was made from a thin and stretchy material, appeared to be ineffective at limiting airborne droplets expelled from the wearer; Isaac Henrion, one of the co-authors, suggests that the result was likely due to the material rather than the style, stating that "Any mask made from that fabric would probably have the same result, no matter the design." Warren S. Warren, a co-author, said that they tried to be careful with their language in interviews, but added that the press coverage has "careened out of control" for a study testing a measuring technique.
There are false claims spread that the usage of masks causes adverse health-related issues such as low blood oxygen levels, high blood carbon dioxide levels, and a weakened immune system. Some also falsely claimed that masks cause antibiotic-resistant pneumonia by preventing pathogenic organisms to be exhaled away from the body.
Anti-maskers have called upon bogus claims about legal or medical exemptions in their refusal to mask. They have, for instance, claimed that the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA; designed to prohibit discrimination based on disabilities) allows exemption from mask requirements, but the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) responded by stating that the act "does not provide a blanket exemption to people with disabilities from complying with legitimate safety requirements necessary for safe operations." The DOJ has issued a warning about cards (some featuring DOJ logos and notices about ADA) that "exempt" its holder from wearing a mask, stating that they are fraudulent and were not issued by a government agency.
On 31 July 2020, Filipino President Rodrigo Duterte said those who didn't have cleaning supplies could use gasoline as a disinfectant to clean their masks. He further stated that "For people who don't have Lysol, drench it in gasoline or diesel... just find some gasoline and dip your hand with the mask in it." His spokesman Harry Roque later corrected him.
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SOURCE: Wikipedia, 2020-10-18
This page last modified: 2020-11-11 09:52:29 -0800 (PST)
During the COVID-19 pandemic, face masks have been employed as a public and personal health control measure against the spread of SARS-CoV-2. Their use is intended as personal protection to prevent infection and as source control to limit transmission of the virus in a community or healthcare setting.
The use of face masks or coverings by the general public has been recommended by health officials to minimize the risk of transmissions, with authorities either requiring their use in certain settings, such as on public transport and in shops, or universally in public. Health officials have stated that medical-grade face masks, such as N95 respirators, should be reserved for healthcare workers and caregivers due to concerns about shortages. Early in the pandemic, public health messaging about masking was often characterized by inconsistent and conflicting statements, such as previous recommendations that only infected individuals should wear masks while there was evidence suggesting asymptomatic transmission, which has led to a lot of public confusion. About 95% of the world's population lived in countries that recommended or mandated the use of masks in public during the pandemic.
Debates have emerged regarding whether masks should be worn, even when social distancing at 2 meters (6 feet), and during exercise. Additionally, public health agencies of some countries and territories changed their recommendations regarding face masks over time. Face mask shortages also occurred, leading to uncertified and substandard masks being reported as sold on the market, with significantly reduced performance.
There are different types of face masks including:
cloth face masks;
loose-fitting medical or surgical masks;
face-sealing filtering facepiece masks, including uncertified dust masks as well as certified respirator masks (with respirator certifications such as N95 masks, N99 masks, and FFP masks); and
other respirators, including elastomeric respirators, some of which are also N95/FFP/N99 etc. masks.
Transparent face shields, medical goggles, and other types of personal protective equipment (colloquially referred to as "PPE") are sometimes used in conjunction with face masks.
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[reference] Vaccine Choice Canada
[reference] Hugs Over Masks
[Vice.com, 2020-11-11] Anti-Maskers Are Attempting to Make the Republican Party a Thing in Canada. A fringe Canadian political party aping the U.S. Republican Party has tied itself to the anti-mask movement. ... At a gathering of thousands of anti-maskers in Toronto in October, Rob Carbone, the proud face of the Canadian Republican Party, stood centre stage and was decreed as the anti-maskers' candidate in a non-existent Canadian election. "Donald Trump is going to win the (U.S.) election," one of the anti-mask organizers told the hyped-up crowd. "And once he wins he's going to endorse Mr. Carbone of the Republican Party of Canada. Repeat after me: 'Trump and Carbone.'" ... As its name implies, the Canadian Republican Party takes a lot of its policies from its U.S. counterpart: hard on crime, anti-immigration, increasing funding for the military, fewer environmental regulations, and so on. It also has some ideas that are uniquely Canadian, like having the RCMP and Canadian military patrol, well, pretty much everywhere, and giving students free tuition. Recently the party has been able to gain some traction thanks to its anti-mask endorsement-and taking over a 50,000 follower Twitter account that used to belong to a weed collective in northern Ontario. ...
[Vice.com, 2020-10-21] The Anti-Mask Revolution Was Organized on Facebook. Shortly after VICE News reached out about Canadian anti-masker groups, Facebook deleted several of them.
[bc.CTVNews.ca, 2020-10-17] Anti-mask protesters, conspiracy theorists march through downtown Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
[bc.CTVNews.ca, 2020-10-17] Anti-mask protesters, conspiracy theorists march through downtown Vancouver.
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[vancouverisland.CTVNews.ca, 2020-10-17] Anti-mask protesters cause delay on BC Ferries vessel.
[2020-09-21] William B. Crews: NIH staffer to retire after he was exposed as the blogger behind anti-Fauci, anti-mask stories
[2020-09-21] A Notorious COVID Troll Actually Works for Dr. Fauci's Agency. Bill Crews is a PR official at the National Institutes of Health. But he also has another job: An anonymous RedState editor who rails against the agency for which he works.
[bc.CTVNews.ca, 2020-08-09] Doctors, officials frustrated by anti-mask protests across Canada. Members of the group "Hugs Over Masks" gathered in cities across Canada Sunday, including a small group in Surrey. Those in attendance refused to speak to CTV News Vancouver, but the founder of the group who organized a rally in Kitchener, Ont., spoke to CTV News there. Vladislav Sovolad said he wants "to make sure that people actually know the real harm and effects" of wearing masks. ...
[bc.CTVNews.ca, 2020-08-09] Doctors, officials frustrated by anti-mask protests across Canada.
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[CBC.ca, 2020-07-27] Anti-masking groups draw from anti-vaccination playbook to spread misinformation. Downplaying dangers of COVID-19, taking research out of context are common strategies, experts say.
[PressProgress.ca, 2020-05-11] Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada: Anti-Lockdown Protesters Block Ambulance Bay at Vancouver Hospital, Lead Chants Against Healthcare Workers. Anti-lockdown protesters block St. Paul's Hospital emergency entrance and shout insults at frontline healthcare workers.
[2020-05-10] COVID-19 Anti-Lockdown Protest in Vancouver, May 10th 2020.
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