Airborne transmission is defined as any droplet 5 μm or smaller in size. 87% of exhaled particles are under 1 μm. The pore size of cloth masks ranges from about 80 to 500 μm. In other words, the pores on masks are many times larger than the size of airborne viral particles and cannot possibly prevent the spread of covid-19 or any other airborne virus.

Masks are NOT a benign intervention. So much of human communication is non-verbal and much of that is expressed through our faces. Masks prevent us from connecting with humans and for children, mask disrupt their social and academic development - they miss out on the opportunity to learn how to emote and read other’s emotions potentially leading to life-long impediments.

Additionally, those who are deaf and hard-of-hearing are stripped of their ability to read lips.

The CDC has long recognized the seasonality of cold and flu like viruses. This means these viruses come and go with the seasons. Like all of viruses, covid-19 is seasonal and there is very little nonpharmaceutical interventions can do to prevent its spread. Additionally, Anthony Fauci stated clearly in January 2020 that “asymptomatic spread has never been the driver of outbreaks”.