Ask HN: Why experts discourage using masks to combat Covid?
This is something that has been baffling me for a while. Typically the argument seems to be in the line of "There is no evidence of benefits for using masks". This, of course to me sounds like a very carefully crafted claim. It is never "there is evidence of no benefit of using masks" and definitely not "there is evidence of masks causing harm" So, what is the actual reason for the dislike from experts? I can think of couple of possible reasons:
1. Experts are afraid that people use masks as a kind of "get out of jail" -card and start doing stupid things if experts say masks make you safer, thus discounting any benefit gained by using them in the first place.
2. Experts are afraid that widespread usage of masks causes supply issues for health care workers where they are needed more.
3. Governments are worried that making masks socially acceptable cause trouble for their facial recognition dystopian dreams.
1. Experts are afraid that people use masks as a kind of "get out of jail" -card and start doing stupid things if experts say masks make you safer, thus discounting any benefit gained by using them in the first place. 2. Experts are afraid that widespread usage of masks causes supply issues for health care workers where they are needed more. 3. Governments are worried that making masks socially acceptable cause trouble for their facial recognition dystopian dreams.
Or something else. Can anyone ELI5?