Non political thread: 1) Yes, wearing a face covering does actually help protect you. 2) It actually protects those around you more. 3) No, it’s not absolute or perfect (far from it) but, it does make a difference. 4) The more people wearing them, the bigger the difference. 1/

5) No, you’re NOT retaining a remotely significant amount of CO2 by wearing a mask. That’s absurd. By absurd, I mean idiotic (sorry, got a little political). 6) No, you’re NOT limiting O2 intake. That’s absurd. By absurd, see #5.

7) Gas molecules are insanely smaller than water droplets and viruses. If your argument is “well, the mask isn’t going to stop all the virus” then you can’t argue that it’s limiting CO2/O2 exchange.

8) Again, it bears saying, masks are NOT perfect. We don’t know exact numbers but, they DO decrease viral spread to the extent that they can & should be a part of the reopening process. 9) Claustrophobia exists & is problematic.

10) 90% claiming claustr. ruin it for the 10% who actually are. The 90% just “really don’t like having a mask on.” There’s a difference, I see both groups daily in the hospital. If you’re a 90%er, pull up your big boy/girl pants, put your fragility away, and wear a mask.

Political part. 11) If you think it’s about “rights,” THIS is the mountain you want to die upon?! Go get fired up about tax law, economic freedom, deregulation, healthcare/insurance oversight, gender equity, 2ndA, etc. There’s so much better causes.

12) This is about “us” taking care of “us.” It’s not about government control. It’s about an incredibly cheap and easy way (cut the sleeve off an old t-shirt, slide the sleeve over the lower face) to lower transmission rates. It’s absolutely not perfect. But, every bit helps.