LogFAQs > #941833366

SeabassDebeste posted...

i specifically remember that we were told masks could "make it worse by increasing the viral load you're exposed to!" we were specifically discouraged from wearing masks. i remember smugly thinking that people wearing masks were doing the wrong thing and that i, avoiding touching things but sanitizing and washing my hands all the time, was doing the "right" thing.

I definitely do not remember this at all.

Kenri posted...

My memory of it is that masks were in incredibly short supply in the early stages of the pandemic, so the advice to the general public to not wear masks was for the sake of ensuring that medical personnel would have the masks they needed. I don't think it was ever about masks not being helpful.

StealThisSheen posted...

Early on, the thought was that those that are sick with it will actually appear sick, and the better thing for healthy people to do would be to properly stay home as much as they could, social distance, etc. Thus, the desire was to save the masks for the people in the health industry and to avoid people thinking they could just wear a mask and not worry about any other preventative measures.

LordoftheMorons posted...

Afaik the main reason was concerns of shortages for healthcare workers. There was also uncertainty about their efficacy (particularly if not worn properly), and a concern that people would be less careful about distancing if they felt like they were already protected by the mask. It was certainly a big mistake, though.

These, though, yes.