I've seen an uptick in posts today and yesterday sharing/referring to a misleading article that claims that the effectiveness of masks has just been "scientifically debunked."

Here's the thing though: they are wrong, and I posted in JUNE predicting this very problem...

(thread)

Here's the thread I posted back in June, and in it you'll find a very specific scientific explanation for the data that supposedly "debunked" the science on masks. https://twitter.com/StephTaitWrites/status/1276583867088990208?s=20

Essentially, people are claiming masks have been "disproven" because a majority of new covid cases indicated that they have "usually" or "always" worn their mask whenever they are in public.

But that's the thing - they are wearing them in PUBLIC.

The very same thing happened with masks in 1918, and many people back then jumped to the same faulty conclusion that masks weren't effective because they weren't stopping the spread of the flu.

Except they all ignored the key piece of data that explained the real problem.

You're much more likely to get Covid from people you share extended close contact with (ie your friends and family) then from strangers you pass in the grocery story. And most people who believe they are following mask recommendation aren't wearing them with family/friends.

Add to this that many others are operating under the mistaken idea that as long as they gather outdoors, they can have their church youth group, their barbecue, their birthday party, etc without masks or distancing because outdoors makes it all safe.

Which is totally inaccurate.

These two factors combined *more* than explain why Covid is still spreading even with masks. It's the very same thing that happened in 1918 all over again. People are misreading the true risks and are masking LESS in the situations that are ACTUALLY riskier.

With winter coming and the holidays approaching, this is only going to get worse unless people start to understand that getting together with your family and friends is the MOST important time to wear your mask.

Yes, that means that if you choose to gather with friends/families for the holidays, you would need to forgo the usual meal around the table as there isnt actually a way to do that safely this year. Is that a sacrifice? Yes.

But losing loved ones to Covid would be far worse.

If you choose to gather, try to practice safe distancing as much as you can, but most importantly find fun activities that can be enjoyed while masked. Play games, watch a movie, talk, do a gift exchange, bake treats to take back and enjoy in your own homes together via zoom...

There are lots of creative ways to try to see your loved ones that can all be done while masked. We may miss our familiar traditions of sharing a meal around the table, but that's much better than missing a loved one - esp. if you have to live with the fear that you infected them

If wearing your mask in public is how you show that you love your neighbors, then please, love your close friends and family enough to wear your masks with them this winter too.

It could very literally be the difference between life and death for them.