Mandating the wearing of masks

Vincent J. Curtis

30 June 20

Several mayors in Ontario, Canada, particularly John Tory, Mayor of Toronto, have asked for the power to mandate the wearing of masks.

Irrational and “contrary to the science” are the ways Dr. Scott Atlas of the respected Hoover Institution described mandating the wearing of masks, especially out of doors.  He has written several excellent articles in The Hill and as a YouTube video out.

The science can be briefly summarized:

1.      If no virus is present, wearing a mask is useless;

2.      Social distance, or wear a mask, but both are unnecessary;

3.      Wearing a mask outdoors is useless because the virus (from another person) gets rapidly dispersed and killed outdoors;

4.      Wearing a mask indoors may be indicated if social distancing is impossible and a sick person is present.

The “abundance of caution” argument doesn’t hold if you’re claiming to “follow the science.”  Since we now know enough about the virus and its transmission, the abundance of caution argument doesn’t hold if you’re following the science.  It’s one or the other, and it is irrational not to follow the science when the science is as well-understood as it now is.

There is a lot more irrational policy making going on because the science isn’t being followed, such as keeping children out of school.  Children don’t get sick, and they don’t transmit the virus.

Mayors who call for the mandatory wearing of masks outdoors are scared, irrational, and possibly intoxicated on their new-found powers.
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