I agree that this seems a reasoned argument for a risk based approach included that of mask wearing, Which mirrors what I said "there is always a balance to be had when deciding control measures".
However your argument was stated as "a mask... physically does nothing" and that you only need wear them if you are showing symptoms, which gives no recognition of people being contagious prior to showing symptoms.
Neither of which matches the arguments made in this article "Others may choose to keep one-way masking at school, because, to them, the benefit of reducing infection outweighs the perceived downside of masks"
I don't wish to be pedantic, but what I actually said was:
"If you physically don't have a virus, then a mask won't physically stop anything spreading." and "healthy individuals to wear a mask when it physically does nothing".
I was not speaking about asymptomatic carriers, but as stated, those who do not have any virus (covid or otherwise......like myself as an example....assuming the daily tests are correct and what the doctors said is correct).
But coming back to asymptomatic carriers.......there lays the issue, there is no "balanced" ground.
By the very fact they're asymptomatic, they won't have any symptoms, and are extremely unlikely to test (who actually goes out and buys tests any more?).
So, do we then say?, "you could have Covid, so to be on the safe side, please wear a mask".
We could do, but then everyone would have to wear a mask......because if they have no symptoms, short of testing every single individual, there is no way of knowing if they have Covid or not. And that would then have to continue forever more.
So, my thought of wearing a mask when symptomatic, to me seems to be the most balanced course of action. Otherwise, the only alternative is to mandate masks for everyone, or mandate daily testing, which neither the public nor the government can afford.
Of course, I fully support those who wish to continue wearing a mask.....that is their right and their choice.......but what I do not support is the criticism of others, who may or may not decide to wear a mask.
If you want to wear a mask, good for you, that's your personal choice, and no-one should tell you otherwise. If you don't want to wear a mask, that's your personal choice, and no-one should tell you otherwise.
I'm afraid what has happened over the past 2 years, is that some have almost become "zealots" one way or the other, or at the very least been drawn towards one end of the spectrum or the other.
The "Zero Covid" crowd, that believe it should be eradicated entirely, by any means necessary, and forcefully impose their views on others.
Then at the other end, the "Covid doesn't exist" crowd that claim its all a worldwide conspiracy by some dark government powers, that vaccines are going to kill us all, and that masks are the work of the devil.
And then in-between, there are those that lean towards either end.......which is why its often difficult to be in the middle......you can get attacked by both sides.
But hey ho......I suppose life would be immensely boring if we all agreed on everything.
