Don’t mandate masks

“The science of masks,” May 17 guest commentary

Jeremy Howard’s article on the wearing of face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic brought up some interesting arguments in favor of mask wearing as a method of source control, meaning the wearer is presumably protecting others from droplets that in the air can spread the disease. In connection with this, Howard mentions that most medical researchers judge interventions on randomized controlled trials, for which mask wearing do not exist at this time. Howard responds by saying that it would be unethical to test mask-wearing with these controlled trials during a pandemic.

I contend that the same applies to medical treatments that showed promise through early anecdotal evidence, such as hydroxychloroquine, but for which results from controlled randomized trials may not yet be available.

Also noteworthy is Howard’s suggestion that policymakers, i.e. the government, should “ensure that everyone wears a mask in public,” which would require a law to that effect. Since there are no studies cited by Howard on the effect of prolonged mask-wearing on the user of the mask, especially those with pre-existing respiratory illnesses, a “one-size-fits-all” mandate from the government would seem unwise.

Most Americans should and will wear a mask out of concern for others but should not be subject to a law that could interfere with their health.