Quote:
Originally Posted by penguinz
What variables are involved other than masks vs no mask? This is why it is all but pointless to post these charts.
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Yeah, that's the issue. And really, it's broader issue with random schmucks on the internet looking at data and drawing conclusions without any real expertise on how to analyze it properly.
That said, I do wish that things hadn't gotten so muddled that useful information is being completely missed these days. For example, why are we still wearing cloth masks? From the beginning we knew that surgical masks for far more effective. We only wore cloth masks due to supply issue with surgical masks. Yet I'd guess 3/4ths of people out there are still wearing the cloth ones. When the story gets bogged down by "masks vs. no-masks" we completely miss information that actually could make a difference.
Now, all that said, I really don't care much about mask mandates in most situations. Vaccines make a far bigger difference than masks do. In restaurants, it seems silly since people just take them off to eat. In grocery stores, you're not around people long enough for it to matter much. It probably makes sense for indoor concert venues, movie theaters, and public transit, but that's about it.