In a recent study comparing the outcomes of different states that enforced lockdowns to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, researchers found that "[m]andated lockdowns had little effect on the spread of the coronavirus." Whether it was California, which enforced strict lockdowns that including beaches and skate parks, or South Dakota, which essentially left itself open for business, the patterns of outbreak and case numbers were practically the same. In another study from the AAPS that evaluated the effectiveness of face masks, the writers concluded that "[w]earing masks (other than N95) will not be effective at preventing SARS-CoV-2 transmission, whether worn as source control or as PPE." This means that the great majority of people wearing cloth masks are no better off than people who wear nothing.  In fact, they may be at a greater risk since the masks cause wearers to touch their faces more often...(Read Full Post)