Folks, I have been writing to
you about COVID for over a month. It is been a painful time period for all of
us. What is really sad is that too many political dictates are
being fostered on us without any good scientific evidence to back them up. One
of those requirements that has me irritated is the use of face coverings that I
see so prevalent out there. When I go to Costco, 95% of the people in the store
are wearing face masks. Why is that?
The Governor of Michigan recently released an edict requiring
that citizens wear a face covering when in any enclosed public space. It
specifically states, “Any individual able to
medically tolerate a face covering must wear a covering over his or her nose
and mouth—such as a homemade mask, scarf, bandana, or handkerchief—when in any
enclosed public space.” Later in the edict, it states,
“Supplies of N95 masks and surgical masks should generally be reserved, for
now, for health care professionals, first responders and other critical workers
who interact with the public.”
It should be well known
that cloth masks, bandanas, or handkerchiefs will do very little to stop the
spread of coronavirus. In fact, they may actually increase your risk of
becoming ill from corona and other influenza-like illnesses. A 2015 study found cloth masks, when
compared to surgical masks, increase the rate of influenza-like illnesses 13x!
(1) Cloth masks are probably best avoided and should not be reused without
properly sanitizing them.
Regular surgical masks are not much better in this situation.
The COVID-19 virus is 0.125 µm in size. Surgical masks have been shown to not
adequately filter against aerosols measuring from 0.9-3.1 µm. (2) Other
researchers have shown that particles from 0.04-0.2 µm can penetrate surgical
masks. (3)
A 2020 study in Seoul, South Korea looked at the effectiveness
of surgical and cotton masks in blocking COVID-19 in a controlled comparison of
four patients. (4) The COVID-infected patients were put in negative pressure
isolated rooms. The scientists compared disposable surgical masks (3 layers)
with reusable cotton masks. Patients were instructed to cough 5 times while
wearing no mask, surgical mask, or cotton mask. Interestingly, all swabs from
the outer masks—including surgical masks—were positive for COVID-19. Inner
masks were also found to be contaminated. That means the mask did not
effectively filter out the COVID virus since it is too small. The authors
state, “Neither surgical nor cotton masks effectively filtered {COVID-19}
during coughs by infected patients.”
The study also reported greater contamination on the outer than
the inner mask (both surgical and cotton) surfaces. The authors claim that the
mask is either allowing the virus to cross from the inner to the outer surface
because the virus is too small or the aerodynamic feature of a mask could
explain this finding. A turbulent jet due to air leakage around the mask edge
could contaminate the outer surface.
We have made far too many
political decisions in the COVID crisis based on fear and not on reliable data.
Here is a perfect example of another one: everyone must wear a mask when inside
any public place.
Should you wear a mask? If you are coughing or sick, my
answer is yes. A surgical mask, and to a lesser extent a cotton mask, will
block large droplets from being spread. However, should we
dictate to healthy people that they are required to wear a mask—cotton or
surgical—when in any public enclosed space? Someone show me the science
supporting the Executive Order by the Governor of Michigan. And Governor
Whitmer wonders why so many of us are annoyed.
To All Our Health,
~DrB
~DrB
Addendum: A further annoyance is my lack of
success in getting masks—both N95 and surgical masks– for my staff to use when
we are treating COVID patients. Perhaps the Governor should release an executive
order helping us get the PPE equipment we need. We have had masks, gowns and
face shields on order for over two months. That is beyond annoying.
(1) BMJ Open. 2015:5:e006577.
(2) Am. J Infect. Contol. 2008:36:276-282
(3) Ann.Occup. Hyg. 2008:52:177-85
(4) Annals of Int. Med. Letter. IBID. April 6, 2020.
(2) Am. J Infect. Contol. 2008:36:276-282
(3) Ann.Occup. Hyg. 2008:52:177-85
(4) Annals of Int. Med. Letter. IBID. April 6, 2020.