Category: Medical

Review of Data on Masks

In the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention Emerging Infectious Diseases Journal, vol. 26, no 5, May 2020, main articular, titled Nonpharmaceutial Measures for Pandemic Influenza in Nonhealthcare Settings – Personal Protective and Environmental Measures

Under the sub heading of Face Masks at least 15 distinct citations in the four paragraphs.

Conclusions are that the face mask is of no help for the following reasons:

  • Only masks rated N95 or P2 provide a finer filtration, and even then, there is no evidence that it helps
  • Most people, especially in low-income communities, are going to wear reusable non-surgical masks
  • People don’t wear them properly, and are lax in the protocols
  • Masks where developed to help keep a wound clean, not to prevent the transmission of influenza virus

The next section goes on to say that washing your hands helps with gastrointestinal illness, not respiratory illness

The World Health Organization sponsored this study, and it was carried out by staff members from the University of Hong Kong

Commonwealth of Virginia Mask Law

§ 18.2-422. Prohibition of wearing of masks in certain places; exceptions.

It shall be unlawful for any person over 16 years of age to, with the intent to conceal his identity, wear any mask, hood or other device whereby a substantial portion of the face is hidden or covered so as to conceal the identity of the wearer, to be or appear in any public place, or upon any private property in this Commonwealth without first having obtained from the owner or tenant thereof consent to do so in writing. However, the provisions of this section shall not apply to persons (i) wearing traditional holiday costumes; (ii) engaged in professions, trades, employment or other activities and wearing protective masks which are deemed necessary for the physical safety of the wearer or other persons; (iii) engaged in any bona fide theatrical production or masquerade ball; or (iv) wearing a mask, hood or other device for bona fide medical reasons upon (a) the advice of a licensed physician or osteopath and carrying on his person an affidavit from the physician or osteopath specifying the medical necessity for wearing the device and the date on which the wearing of the device will no longer be necessary and providing a brief description of the device, or (b) the declaration of a disaster or state of emergency by the Governor in response to a public health emergency where the emergency declaration expressly waives this section, defines the mask appropriate for the emergency, and provides for the duration of the waiver. The violation of any provisions of this section is a Class 6 felony.

Code 1950, §§ 18.1-364, 18.1-367; 1960, c. 358; 1975, cc. 14, 15; 1986, c. 19; 2010, cc. 262, 420; 2014, c. 167.

The chapters of the acts of assembly referenced in the historical citation at the end of this section may not constitute a comprehensive list of such chapters and may exclude chapters whose provisions have expired.