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Comment by reify | Hacker News Reader

This is the correct way to do science

A superb example of poor science in practice!!!!!!!!!

This study did not receive any funding. I wonder why?

Conclusions and Relevance:

MMWR publications pertaining to masks drew positive conclusions about mask effectiveness over 75% of the time despite only 30% testing masks and <15% having statistically significant results.

No studies were randomized, yet over half drew causal conclusions.

The level of evidence generated was low and the conclusions drawn were most often unsupported by the data. Our findings raise concern about the reliability of the journal for informing health policy.

So many people still wearing masks in their cars while driving alone.

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>This study did not receive any funding. I wonder why?

You don't need funding to do a literature review.

A bit like you don't need funding to write software.

> So many people still wearing masks in their cars while driving alone.

Where do you live that you see this regularly?

Don't think it's happening in southern California.

It would have been an excellent idea in Southern California not that long ago — a good mask massively reduces PM2.5, and PM2.5, especially on So Cal freeways, was quite high.

Cabin air filters, which are in many if not most modern cars, should already have removed the particulates already.

“Should have” is, at best, wishful thinking. In air filtration, a good rule of thumb is that, if an actual quantitative spec isn’t given, then the filter doesn’t filter. I’ve seen this with expensive commercial systems with stamped plans, I’ve seen it with very fancy European IAQ systems, and I’ve seen it with cars. Seriously, go look for a stated spec for a cabin air filter, which you generally won’t find, then drive on a freeway, bring a PM2.5 meter, and compare windows open to windows closed.

I live in Minneapolis - I see it all the time. Several times a day in fact. I still see people in outside settings wearing them as well. By now, if I see a person wearing one my only two thoughts are: a) this is an act of virtue signaling (Minneapolis is a VERY progressive city) or b) you are immunocompromised and or wearing it for medical or health reasons.

Since both of these are on opposite ends of the spectrum, I just hope its for medical reasons and being cautious as opposed to the former and get one with my day.

Don’t forget option C: in cold, dry weather, a disposable mask can be an impressive comfort improvement. And you can throw it away when it gets disgusting. They often outperform balaclavas.

Or option D: allergies. A well fitted disposable mask removes allergens, at least until it collects so many that it starts triggering allergies all by itself. Achoo!

I discovered option D during covid and it's like a superpower. I have allergies even through double dosing OTC medicine, but a good mask does wonders for me in spring.

> So many people still wearing masks in their cars while driving alone.

Many of them do it because they have various degrees of social anxiety, not because they are afraid of the 'Rona.

Why would that be relevant to their behavior while alone?

If you can see them wearing a mask while driving, are they really alone?

Unless your windows are tinted way past the legal limit, you aren't really alone when driving.

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