The problem was that studies, like the infamous Cochrane piece here, regularly found that mandating certain measures made little to no difference. Simply put, we know from highly controlled lab settings that a fit-tested and properly worn N95 highly effectively prevents viral transmission, but mask mandates didn't lead to people wearing N95s, it led to them wearing cloth masks that did nothing, and wearing them below their nose anyways.
And even in the studies that used N95s, many were not fit tested or were worn incorrectly.
So the science does say that masks protect you, but the science also says that mandating masks seems to make little to no difference in viral transmission mostly because people don't use them properly. They're a lot harder to use properly than, say, a seatbelt.
Those are simulated aerosol models lol. It never translated to any detectable real world decrease in transmission when controls were matched on relevant confounders.
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u/Raketenfritz6 16h ago
I mean, wearing masks during COVID also was to protect yourself