It's really not so simple as it would seem at first sight.Many people have the infection some time before they experience symptoms, indeed some people never exhibit symptoms at all, and so may have it without ever knowing. So that when infected people wear a mask, they may be creating what is known as a "fomite", effectively a highly virulent reservoir of virus which builds up in the mask.Then when they touch the mask (to adjust it to drink, eat, smoke, scratch their ear etc), they get a large amount of virus on their hands, which can then get deposited on doorknobs, lift buttons, furniture, clothing etc, from where it can infect others.So whilst compulsory mask-wearing MIGHT help to reduce infection, there have not yet been enough wide scale studies conducted into Covid-19 transmission specifically, to state definitively that the benefits clearly outweigh the disadvantages.P.S. The study quoted appears to rely on modelling, rather than specific laboratory research under test conditions.
Richard Cathcart ● 2297d