The review section is interesting and comprehensive, but I note it says the same thing I've been saying: cloth masks are less protective and are potentially susceptible if they are washed, particularly if not in a hospital quality laundry.
The rest of it is just advocacy lacking in any real data. Their argument is basically the benefits outweigh the costs (which to their credit they acknowledge, but proceed to dismiss as not very burdensome). There's also nothing that addresses the real life concerns, particularly against the delta....anything that doesn't address what's happening in Israel and Iceland, despite vaccine mandates and mask mandates, isn't a comprehensive review. That's always been the big question: why if masks work don't we see a substantial impact in the curves once mask mandates go into effect.
To their credit , they criticize the oversell of masks. But they don't address the issue now that there's widespread vaccination, why mask? Why do we care about cases? The reality with masking is we are at a point where we need to discuss the pros and cons....cloth masking is just security theatre....either we are going to mandate n95s and surgical pluses, or let's get off of it and move on now that everyone that wants one is vaccinated. The other thing that the pro maskers need to articulate at this point is what's the rational: hospital collapse??? If so it's a tool that should be utilized strictly in those cases where hospital collapse is a threat.
Basically the section on masks devolves into an argument yes we don't know the scope or efficacy, but the costs (which they dismiss) are so low, why not be cautious.
