I guess the Journal of American Medicine could be just virtue signaling, but since wearing a mask is, like, barely an inconvenience worth worrying about, and I can’t really see an ulterior motive for a great scientific conspiracy to alter studies in order to get us to wear one, I’ll go ahead and wear the damn thing.

Not quite sure what you think this map-summary of the full period of the pandemic shows you, but timing of problems in various states suggests the value of public health measures, including masks. The worst of it in the NY tristate area was baked in a year ago before anyone knew what was happening, and there was a failure to wall off elderly and elderly care facilities.

Florida, Texas, and even Cali with their controversial late pandemic spikes, appear to show the benefits of being outside. AZ had a little less luck in that regard. Reasons for disparities in outcomes between states with similar characteristics in terms of climate and population density should be a huge part of the post pandemic review.

But that chart in the parent post, showing just the outcome for the entire year, does not give you the basis for the mask gotcha moment you seem desperate to enjoy.


[Post edited by hoolstoptheheels at 04/18/2021 10:03AM]