Brownstone » Articles for Beny Spira

Beny Spira

Beny Spira is a professor in the department of microbiology at the University of São Paulo, Brazil.

masks ineffective

Cochrane Ends the Masking Rage 

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Even before the pandemic, the best available evidence – randomized controlled trials – already showed that masks are ineffective in containing respiratory viral transmission. Additional RCTs conducted during the pandemic support this conclusion. Therefore, the best available evidence does not support even the recommendation of wearing masks, let alone making them compulsory. 

The Mask Distraction

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There are many open questions about the actions taken in response to the pandemic, and, in my view, a most relevant one is whether the mandatory use of masks helped mitigate the spread of Covid-19, or if it was just a distraction, which may have even hindered the fight against the pandemic.

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