| Popis: |
Masks as a weapon against the spread of COVID-19 are illustrative of how to confront a problem when evidence is lacking. We do not know if masks protect the people wearing them, especially outside of a health care center, nor do we know whether generalized mask use helps a society deflect deaths from COVID-19. That is why we have put up a theater with a question mark; we simply do not know. If our communication about COVID-19 were accurate and transparent, then even those who advocate mask use would acknowledge this fact. We will talk about how the use of surrogate markers, limited observational data, and selective comparisons between nations have led to misinformation and confusion about mask use. We will also discuss the single randomized study done on mask use and how to better improve communication to make it more accurate and less politicized. |
