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hymanhymen My response to an old friend complaining about people not wearing masks: [old friend], I would rather not wear a mask because I know the science does not support the wearing of masks by the community. This is why the CDC recommended against it early in the pandemic. before they wrongly changed their position. This is why the WHO still doesn't recommend it. However, because you are a friend, I would consider wearing it long enough to have the in-person conversation that would help you understand that the recommendations for community mask wearing are not supported by the science. As a physician and former medical journal editor, I've read the scientific literature on this topic. Here are the key points that everyone should consider: - "Social distancing" by 6 feet is effective. - Wash your hands frequently. - Healthy people do not need to wear masks. - Cloth masks don't work. - If you wear a mask, wear it once and throw it away. Never touch the mask or your face without washing your hands. - Let me repeat, wash your hands frequently. - Sick people should stay home. - If you are coughing or sneezing, stay home. - If you cough or sneeze in your mask, throw it away and get a fresh one. - If you are going to wear a mask, please learn how to wear, handle, and maintain its sterility or it will become a liability to your health. - Community wearing of masks by the public is ineffective, lacks real scientific evidence of benefit, and may actually cause harm to the wearer: 1) re-breathing viral particles and INCREASING VIRAL LOAD that turns a mild asymptomatic disease into something worse, 2) aspirating the opportunistic pathogens that tend to grow in the warm, most interior of the mask, 3) decreasing arterial oxygenation, 4) increasing arterial carbon-dioxide. Hiding in fear from SARS CoV-2 is not the solution, at least not for most people with healthy immune systems and no chronic diseases. Supporting the health of your immune system and allowing herd immunity to develop should be the goal. See my page for a list of immune system supporting supplements and measures. Vitamin C, D, A, melatonin, glutathione, etc. are very good ideas. Hiding at home or behind masks will slow or prevent the development of natural herd immunity, the only thing that will protect the vulnerable populations. What's happening in the world today, including the misinformation surrounding community mask wearing, is about political agendas, symbolism, fear, and dividing and isolating the people. Jim Meehan, MD