Masks Mandates Counterproductive. How Much More Data Do We Need?

American Thinker ^ | 04/10/2021 | Spike Hampson

[SeekAndFind]

On March 17, American Thinker posted an article entitled "Mask Mandates Do Not Save Lives." By comparing COVID death rates in states with no mask mandate to states in which masking was mandatory, the article was able to show that, on average, states in which masking was voluntary had lower death rates than states requiring it. The difference was marginal, so the conservative conclusion was that required masking had not saved lives.

Since that study did nothing to control for potentially confounding considerations like population density or age structure, more sophisticated studies of the question are in order. What it highlighted, however, is the ongoing failure of our governments to provide measurable evidence that masks save lives.

At the time that article was written, there were only ten states that had no mask mandates, but since then, seven additional states have lifted them. Those states have been heavily criticized for having done so. President Biden has referred to their decision as "Neanderthal thinking," and a great many high-profile people of a progressive bent have expressed dismay at such irresponsible behavior. However, no evidence has been brought forward to document the measured effectiveness of obligatory masking.

Masking might logically be expected to influence the death rate only indirectly. If masks diminish the appearance of new cases, then — other things being equal — fewer cases should mean fewer deaths.

On March 31, NPR posted an article entitled "How Severe is Your State's Coronavirus Outbreak?" It contains an interactive map that for each state allows the viewer to see the rate at which new COVID cases have appeared in the preceding week. The rate is expressed as the average daily number of new cases per 100,000 population.

[SeekAndFind]

There are seventeen states that did not require masks during the March 24–31 week, thirty-three states that did. The above map shows which category each state falls in. The number — usually in the upper right corner of a state — is the average daily new case rate per 100,000 population.

Since this is all about state policy regarding masks, the states are equal in weight regardless of population size. Here are the average daily new cases per 100,000 population for each of the two groups.

* 33 mask mandate states: 21.0 daily new cases per 100,000 people
* 17 mask voluntary states: 14.2 daily new cases per 100,000 people

My only question is this -- HAS THIS MAP TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION POPULAITON DENSITY? How close do people live relative to each other in these states? Wouldn't that be a factor?

[Fungi]

An excellent point, but hard to include that information when it may not be available. It was never about masks, it was about control. Never let the truth get in the way of the agenda.

[lurk]

Our state quit the masks today. Now everyone in the store can do what I’ve been doing the last 60 days.

[The Free Engineer]

My mask, which I haven’t washed for weeks, is picking up stuff as I wear it. Then I hang it on my turn signal, and put it on maybe the other side out the next time I wear it in somewhere.
It’s a wonder I haven’t caught the Covid.
This is probably a bad practice, and I would be better off with just frequent hand washing.

[SeekAndFind]

RE: Our state quit the masks today.

May we know what state that is?

[who knows what evil?]

Doesn’t matter...businesses will still require them...

[phoneman08]

Doesn’t matter...businesses will still require them...

This has been true here in Georgia for some time now. As more people have begun ignoring the muzzle signs, the stores seem less inclined to attempt to enforce their mask rules.

[Sonshinegirl]

I doubt that if you intend to spend money they will make you leave

[RBW in PA]

Without the visuals of the mask, it becomes much more difficult to push this scam. Only after a sufficient number of people have been inoculated (what ever the real motive is for this) will the masks go away.

[conservative98]

Depends on the location, but that doesn't always work. Usually the Karens will shame you and management you will be asked to leave. If you don't police will be called

[phoneman08]

The few times a Karen or Todd have confronted me, so far a simple go-away did the trick. I was asked to leave a Home Depot last summer by a Dept. manager who was none too happy I left my buggy with four gallons of customer mixed paint in the middle of the aisle.

[Sonshinegirl]

Just as the days of the nazis.. your “friends and neighbors” turn you in ...how sad ...

[Sonshinegirl]

👍🏻

[cableguymn]

The same will happen when the corp gods want vaccine passports..

they will drop it when the sales figures come in.

[phoneman08]

The vaccine passports are the most ridiculous idea ever.

We will soon get to the point where everyone that wants a vaccination has access to it and have no need to provide papers for any reason. Those that declined a vaccine are assuming the risk of infection and do not need some company to deny them their right to make their own life decisions.

[upchuck]

From the article:

It is time to demand rigorously collected and objectively analyzed data showing the degree to which mask mandates allegedly suppress the spread of COVID. Pronouncements by the supposed experts are no longer enough.

Amen!!

[kvanbrunt2]

I’m planning to do some kind of exorcism incantation if someone ever approaches me. I think the mask people are demon possessed.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Usually the Karens will shame you and management you will be asked to leave.

Has happened ONCE in the past year.

No, I will not wear a training burka.

Smile, say no cheerfully and keep on walking.

And Karens do not bother me. I was given the gift of No and the spine to use it by my parents.

Their pathetic attempts at glares just bounce off.

[conservative98]

Correcting the typo on my post: 'Usually the Karens will shame you and you will be asked by management to leave.'

Personally, I will wear a mask as a courtesy in a store and to keep the mask Karens away. But one foot from the exit and it's off.

Around here I see few people not not wearing in the parking lot with nobody around. They still wear the mask outside and drive away wearing it, sad.