© K. Birb/Twitter
“It’s just a mask”: Global impact of the face mask folly
Many 'health authorities' have relied on the
obsolete 'droplet model' of virus transmission. If this model were correct, face masks would indeed work. But in reality, respiratory droplets - which by definition cannot be inhaled - play almost no role in virus transmission. Instead, respiratory viruses are transmitted via much smaller
aerosols, as well as, possibly, some
object surfaces. Face masks
don't work against either of these transmission routes.
2) The Asian paradox
During the first year of the pandemic, several East Asian countries had a very low coronavirus infection rate, and many 'health experts' falsely assumed that this was due to face masks. In reality, it was due to very rapid
border controls in some countries neighboring China as well as a combination of
metabolic and immunologic factors reducing transmission rates. Nevertheless, many East Asian countries eventually
got overwhelmed by the coronavirus, too (see charts below).
Comment: Making it easy for those looking to exploit the prison system to do so was bound to lead to the types of abuses Heather Mason describes. Putting "fully intact", biologically male sex offenders in prison with women is probably one of the stupidest things ever done. But we simply can't let common sense or sound judgment get in the way of ideological adherence. No matter who it hurts.
Bonkers NHS Trusts are admitting trans women sex offenders onto female-only hospital wards - this really is a bridge too far