COVID: Madness about masks

A letter in the Sunday “Press” reproached opponents to mask-wearing for being selfish and uncaring. The author completely misses the point. The point is that it is irrational to wear a mask for protection against viral infections. There is no scientific evidence that they work.

One researcher learned that scientific studies over the last 45 years all reach the same conclusion: “masks are useless in preventing the spread of disease and, if anything, are unsanitary objects that themselves spread bacteria and viruses.”

Arthur Firstenberg, author of “The Invisible Rainbow,” reviewed the literature from 1975 to 2020 because he was shocked when he read the findings of a study in 1980 by surgeons who decided to see what would happen if they did not wear masks during surgeries. They found that when nobody wore masks, the rate of wound infection was less than half what it was when everyone wore masks.

It cannot be said too often: Masks DO NOT WORK. The studies are available to the truthseeker online. Masks have been proven to be ineffective against the transmission of viral infections, influenza, COVID-19, SARS and the common cold. Even more, mask-wearing is positively harmful because it reduces oxygen intake, spreads contaminants and increases infection rates in mask-wearers.

When government disregards facts in the formulation of policy, the citizenry is doomed. Reason is the natural light by which all private and public conduct should be guided. It is madness to ignore the facts about masks. It is also uncharitable.

ANNE STINNETT

Rathdrum