WaPo Finally Says It: 'Mask Mandates Didn’t Make Much of a Difference Anyway'

It looks like there’s a bit more to that COVID dam breaking.

As we previously reported, we saw that a new Johns Hopkins mega-study said that lockdowns had little effect on COVID mortality, but had so many other, devastating effects on people.

We see even Democratic governors dropping their mask mandates in schools.

Now, the latest from the Washington Post has finally concluded: “Mask Mandates Didn’t Make Much of a Difference,” their title from a new story blares.

pic.twitter.com/lflpu9VDPu

— Dr. Nickarama (@nickaramaOG) February 13, 2022

It is intuitive that a barrier ought to prevent germs from being emitted into the air. But if that’s true, why isn’t there more evidence for the benefits of masking two years into the pandemic? Experts associated with The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) at the University of Minnesota have laid out a more complex analysis: Given the current understanding that the virus is transmitted in fine aerosol particles, it’s likely an infectious dose could easily get through and around loose-fitting cloth or surgical masks.

Gee, ya think? But this isn’t new information. We reported in April of 2021 that Biden coronavirus advisor Michael Osterholm talked about the ineffectiveness of most of the cloth masks that people were wearing in regards to the virus. Why are they only getting around to saying this now? Most people have been wearing those cloth masks. And then, add to that that many aren’t wearing them right, are constantly touching them; the masks are also retaining moisture, and that increases the issues.

All those factors may explain why the states with mask mandates haven’t fared significantly better than the 35 states that didn’t impose them during the omicron wave. Rhode Island, where I live, has had a mask mandate since mid-December; nonetheless, we saw our January surge rise far higher than any other state. There’s little evidence that mask mandates are the primary reason the pandemic waves eventually fall — though much of the outrage over lifting mandates is based on that assumption.

Meanwhile, where was the factoring in the harm, such as that done to the children who were the least likely to be severely affected by COVID? That’s perhaps been the most harmful thing about the mask mandates — how the affect on children seems to not even have been considered or cared about by governments in imposing such strictures.

We saw how happy the kids were in a school in Las Vegas, when they were told that the mask mandates were being lifted.

Stop what you’re doing and watch this.

Kids at a Las Vegas elementary school burst out into cheers after learning they no longer have to wear a mask to school. pic.twitter.com/h6rQ1piNvx

— Jacob Olson (@JacobO1son) February 12, 2022

The joy shows you how hard it has been for them.

Students in more and more schools are leading walkouts or otherwise protesting against masks.

Students at Lake Park High School, IL held a walkout this morning in protest of mask mandates 💪🏼🇺🇸🔥 pic.twitter.com/cw7yk5pe50

— Libs of Tik Tok (@libsoftiktok) February 12, 2022

Listen as one father talks about his daughter. It’s hard to feel for him and not to cry. This is what this has cost us.

A father in Naperville, Illinois speaks passionately about the impact of mask mandates on his child. (part 1 of 2) pic.twitter.com/5OvDvC8hVD

— Aaron (@AaronFromChi) February 8, 2022

Note the mask advisory at the end of the video.