A Mask from the Past

Cloth face masks were one of the strategies used in various cities, some going so far as making the public wear them by law. Unfortunately health authorities cited many inconsistencies in how they were worn, the materials used, and how disciplined the population was in wearing them. Written reports complained of scofflaws, putting away their masks when law-enforcement was not present. Because of these difficulties, the benefits of widespread mask-wearing was inconclusive.

Cloth masks are obviously imperfect in both intrinsic filtering effectiveness and in how people misuse them. In light of today’s pandemic, we’re trying a multitude of tactics including masks, such as social distancing, hand-washing, sneezing into elbows, etc., all in an effort to reduce the risk to spreading infection. No one single tactic can reduce all risk to 0.

Even Kellog’s study demonstrated that the thinnest gauze was more effective than no mask at all. This is the key point that they seem to disregard in recommending against the general use of masks. If we learn anything from history, it should be this: Don’t let the perfect become the enemy of the good [enough].

SOURCES

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