March 10, 2023
LIVE NOT BY LIES:
Statement on 'Physical interventions to interrupt or reduce the spread of respiratory viruses' review (Cochrane.org)
The Cochrane Review 'Physical interventions to interrupt or reduce the spread of respiratory viruses' was published in January 2023 and has been widely misinterpreted.Karla Soares-Weiser, Editor-in-Chief of the Cochrane Library, has responded on behalf of Cochrane:Many commentators have claimed that a recently-updated Cochrane Review shows that 'masks don't work', which is an inaccurate and misleading interpretation.It would be accurate to say that the review examined whether interventions to promote mask wearing help to slow the spread of respiratory viruses, and that the results were inconclusive. Given the limitations in the primary evidence, the review is not able to address the question of whether mask-wearing itself reduces people's risk of contracting or spreading respiratory viruses.
All one need do is look at some numbers on a topic that the Right hasn't lost its mind over--the reduction in flu during the pandemic response--to know that their talking points are garbage.
Posted by Orrin Judd at March 10, 2023 4:31 PM