• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Store
  • ION Awards
  • Podcasts
  • Full Measure
    • Full Measure Cover Stories
  • Donate
  • Bestseller "Slanted"

Sharyl Attkisson

Untouchable Subjects. Fearless, Nonpartisan Reporting.

  • US
  • World
  • Business
  • Health
    • Vaccine, Medical links
    • Omicron Lab Origin
    • Covid-19 Origins
    • Covid-19 Natural Immunity
    • Covid-19 Vaccine Concerns Summary
    • Covid-19 Vaccine: 80 Common Adverse Events
  • The Censored
  • Special Investigations
    • Attkisson v. DOJ
    • Media Mistakes, Biden Era
    • Media Mistakes on Trump
    • Other investigations
      • Benghazi
      • "Collusion v. Trump" TL
      • Election 2020
      • Fake News
      • Fast & Furious
      • Obamacare
      • Obama Surveillance TL
      • Other investigations
      • Ukraine 'Sabotage' of Trump TL

STUDY: Masks make no significant difference

Dated: November 18, 2020 by Sharyl Attkisson 150 Comments

      

A new study indicates there is no statistically significant difference when it comes to wearing a mask or not outside the home to prevent Covid-19 spread.

According to the study, 1.8% of participants with masks got coronavirus. That compares to 2.1% of participants without masks.

A recommendation to wear a surgical mask when outside the home among others did not reduce, at conventional levels of statistical significance, incident SARS-CoV-2 infection compared with no mask recommendation.

ACPJOURNALS Study

The study is from the Annals of Internal Medicine. It is titled:

"Effectiveness of Adding a Mask Recommendation to Other Public Health Measures to Prevent SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Danish Mask Wearers, A Randomized, Controlled Trial."

Read the study here:

https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/M20-6817


      
[the_ad id="17661"]

About Sharyl Attkisson

Emmy-Award Winning Investigative Journalist, New York Times Best Selling Author, Host of Sinclair's Full Measure

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Ruth says

    November 18, 2020 at 9:55 am

    Thanks for you courageous reporting

    Reply
  2. Jay Greenspan says

    November 18, 2020 at 9:55 am

    No surprise

    Reply
  3. Earl says

    November 18, 2020 at 9:58 am

    Obviously more peer review and study is needed here. If masks are useless then what does work or do we just wait for a vaccine?

    Reply
    • Kathy Leicester says

      November 18, 2020 at 10:12 am

      It's a virus. There is no "work" with a virus; you get it.

      That's why your immune system is so critical, and why wearing the face diaper is bad for your health, and your immune system.

      Reply
      • Michelle Pingel says

        January 11, 2021 at 1:11 pm

        Absolutely right! Take off the masks and beef up on good vitamins!

        Reply
        • Patrick Danvik says

          January 20, 2021 at 1:27 pm

          This is advocating for people to throw themselves into harms way just to try and have an argument against masks. Masks don't help the wearer, they're for the people around the wearer. It's to prevent other people from potentially getting covid from you.
          While this seems annoying and like you shouldn't have to wear one if you know you don't have covid: almost 40% of people with covid don't present symptoms. You could simply just not know. Also, if you don't have covid, good on you, but what about other people who do? It is easier to commit to an action as a whole, and simply protect everyone than to get involved in some round-about process to avoid just wearing a simple piece of cloth.

          Reply
    • jay says

      November 18, 2020 at 10:16 am

      Earl,

      Do your own research. The masks havent worked from the beginning. The virus is actually small enough to go through the mask. Wearing nothing is safer than the mask. it allows you to breath with taking in less oxygen putting more strain on the body. This makes the body more susceptible to a weakened immune system. Take some vitamin d and go work out.

      Reply
    • Seth says

      November 18, 2020 at 10:16 am

      If masks don't work, the lockdowns don't work, and there's no vaccine, we might have to rely on the immune system that's been in place for the entirety of human existence. That system is 99+% effective across the whole population. For the highest at risk group (75+yrs old) the survival rate is about 95%. The vaccines they tested on healthy younger volunteers are 90-94% effective with nasty side effects they've only begun to start cataloguing. Your choice, but I say eat good food, exercise a little bit, and enjoy whatever life is your to live. Death comes for us all some day.

      Reply
    • Star says

      November 18, 2020 at 10:43 am

      Just not congregate? Have people tested before having a gathering.

      Reply
    • Tracyy says

      November 18, 2020 at 11:04 am

      Having a strong immune system. Make sure your vitamin D levels are adequate. Ignore the fear mongering.

      Reply
    • Gene says

      November 18, 2020 at 11:29 am

      Nothing will work. It's a virus and spreads just like influenza. Masks are useless. Even vaccines won't stop all people from getting it. Every year millions of people get flu shots and still get the flu.

      Reply
      • Paul says

        November 18, 2020 at 11:54 am

        Exactly!...are we gonna have to have a covid shot every year too? I don't do a flu shot and probably won't do a covid shot either...j/s

        Reply
      • JJ Chester says

        November 18, 2020 at 1:16 pm

        But, the typical influenza vaccine is only 40-60% effective. So, infection in some of the cohort that was vaciafed is to. E expected.

        Reply
      • Paul says

        November 18, 2020 at 1:41 pm

        Nice! I finally found someone with common sense. ๐Ÿ˜‰

        Reply
      • Joe says

        November 18, 2020 at 2:10 pm

        Covid 19 vaccines may indeed work because of its singularly targeted nature. There are many โ€œfluโ€ strains, but not so with C19.

        Reply
      • TMSJapan says

        November 18, 2020 at 6:29 pm

        Yep, and many die of it even though they got the flu shot.

        Reply
      • Stephen Morriss says

        November 18, 2020 at 10:55 pm

        You're absolutely right. So long as humans live in social communities, all parasitic life forms that depend on humans to survive, will find a path to infect them. The only known factor regarding viral transmission is the fact that it is the quantity of virus exposure (viral load) that has a direct relationship to the severity of the illness. A light exposure typically results in little to no symptoms while heavier exposure increases the likelihood of more severe illness. So avoidance of heavy exposure is the only proactive strategy. It is unreasonable to expect to control exposure but reasonable to control the amount of exposure. Masks are not the answer, but they do signal to everyone that the environment is ripe with virus and we need to limit our exposure to mitigate the risk.

        Reply
        • Cowgirl46 says

          December 8, 2020 at 1:12 pm

          I've heard that too. Makes lots of sense. I remember in my animal health classes a million years ago the prof saying "A virus needs a host"....which means it's not like a bacteria that can form a spore and live in the soil for years......I have to assume that might still be true......

          Reply
      • Lloyd says

        November 19, 2020 at 2:03 am

        YES, that is true. I am living proof.

        Reply
      • Alvin says

        November 19, 2020 at 7:41 am

        Ding Ding Ding

        We have a winner!

        However people willfully disregard this because the MASK gives them a (false) sense of SAFETY / SECURITY! The MSM has perpetuated this hoax for 9-10 months now and the washing of the brain has taken hold solidly.

        It will take months, years to undue the damage to individuals psyche.

        Reply
      • JungianINTP says

        November 19, 2020 at 10:18 am

        Extrapolate this, Gene :

        Greatest Hoax Perpetrated on the Public :

        https://summit.news/2020/11/18/top-pathologist-claims-coronavirus-is-the-greatest-hoax-ever-perpetrated-on-an-unsuspecting-public/

        -Rick

        Reply
    • Mike says

      November 18, 2020 at 3:35 pm

      Herd immunity works.
      It's called science.

      Reply
    • Drmike says

      November 18, 2020 at 10:34 pm

      Having conducted peer review I wonder, what exactly do you expect others to find with the data that has been provided?
      Are you disputing the data or the results.
      Studies arenโ€™t designed to appease conformation bias.

      Reply
    • Marshall Gill says

      November 19, 2020 at 8:34 am

      Unless you are immune challenged, it doesn't matter anyway. This virus is lethal to less than 1% of the people who contact it. When you consider the government incentives to increase the count it may not even be as deadly as the flu.

      Did you know that even with seat belts and air bags, people still die in auto accidents? Should I assume that you don't drive?

      Reply
    • Shona says

      November 20, 2020 at 11:17 am

      What does work? A working immune system. People with metabolic related diseases are the most vulnerable. If you're vulnerable, stay home. Otherwise, quite being afraid of a virus with a 99% survival rate.

      Reply
    • Bob says

      November 26, 2020 at 12:19 am

      As Hamilton said "A nation which can prefer disgrace to danger is prepared for a master and deserves one.

      Short interpretation: use your Creator given unalienable right to life and make your own decision how to protect it.

      I'm a retired atmospheric chemist and choose not to wear a mask for a myriad of reasons.

      I'm not a doctor, but ones I trust choose to be prophylactic with Trump's first medicine. Works for me.

      Reply
    • RON ADAMS says

      December 15, 2020 at 6:06 pm

      DISTANCE WASHING REG. LOTS OF OUTDOOR AIR WALKING EXERCISE 80YRS OLD FEEL GREAT WORK AN D WALK EVERY DAY AFTER THE SPAINISH FLU DRS WROTE DO NOT GET SHUTUP IN ROOMS WITH OTHERS GET OUTSIDE EXERCISE BREATHE FRESH AIR AND GET EXERCISE I WILL ADD DO NOT LISTEN TO THOSE WHO WOULD LOCK US IN GET THE IDEA IF NOT WAKE UP

      Reply
  4. Lucy Gottlieb says

    November 18, 2020 at 10:02 am

    I know whatever I see on your show I will NEVER see it on mainstream media. Always very informative. Thank you for telling it like it is!

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      November 18, 2020 at 4:54 pm

      I got to this article via Google News, aka Mainstream Media. Prepared to be bombarded.

      Reply
  5. Chuck says

    November 18, 2020 at 10:03 am

    I have always suspected this I'm glad somebody done a study on this Thanks for posting this

    Reply
  6. Pamela Rohlman says

    November 18, 2020 at 10:10 am

    That is not news, they were two virologists out of Michigan, high-level scientist, who produced evidence that a mask was not effective. They went on to reveal in their video that in fact, wearing a mask was a greater health risk than not wearing a mask. This is about โ€œcontrol.โ€œ There is a whole world of sheep out there who have been conditioned to no longer have critical thinking skills and to rely on government to dictate their lives. I am not one of them!

    Reply
  7. Joe Roscoe says

    November 18, 2020 at 10:11 am

    This study should be repeated. In an era where false studies are planted in medical journals to make political hay, repeating the same design in other countries s/b worth the trouble.

    Reply
  8. Robert Bair says

    November 18, 2020 at 10:34 am

    Has anyone prepared a study on whether or not me wearing a mask protects the people around me?

    Reply
    • Anita says

      November 28, 2020 at 5:52 am

      It can't protect anyone around you if you're not sick.

      Reply
  9. George says

    November 18, 2020 at 10:35 am

    Coincides with the CDC saying that the people who got the virus 70% wore their mask all the time.

    Reply
  10. Phillip Pine says

    November 18, 2020 at 10:37 am

    Over the years, study after study conclude that masks are ineffective against a virus and essentially act as a safety talisman. This year, on the other hand, these same results are condemned in the press and the Leftist politicians.
    Study after study shows that the Left ends up destroying what they control: science, governments, sports, journalism, education, etc.

    Reply
  11. Daniel S Goorevitch says

    November 18, 2020 at 10:49 am

    Does this mean strictly outdoors? "Outside the home" is a big vague. Does it include inside grocery stores, for example, where people experience closer contact? I'm not surprised not wearing a mask in a part doesn't spread it. I do it all the time. Can you clarify this, please?

    Reply
    • Anita says

      November 28, 2020 at 5:54 am

      Outside the home means anywhere other than in the home. It includes grocery stores, outside, work, etc.

      Reply
  12. Average Joe says

    November 18, 2020 at 10:56 am

    If this true than how do you explain that republicans are 4 times more likely to catch and die from COVID19 than democrats. I can't believe that the virus is political.

    Reply
    • Anita says

      November 28, 2020 at 5:56 am

      Who told you that? New York City, New Jersey. Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Michigan were hardest hit. Not exactly hotbeds of conservatism.

      Reply
  13. Dan says

    November 18, 2020 at 10:59 am

    I just want to know the real reason we're being intimidated into wearing these things.

    Reply
    • Bob says

      November 26, 2020 at 12:25 am

      Complicity training for vaccines

      Reply
  14. Patricia Darty says

    November 18, 2020 at 11:03 am

    I think people should concentrate on improving their immunity instead of relying solely on outside mitigation strategies. There is so much you can do for yourself. Just working on things like Vit D, C, melatonin, better diet, losing weight, good sleep, exercise, being in nature- all attainable, a lot of it free.
    Doing these things alleviates much fear and gives you control over the situation. Also, if you look at all cause mortality stats in U.S. to give you perspective you will find that about 2.3. million people die in the U.S. each year. This averages out to around 230,000 people each month (stats from CDC). Cancer, heart disease, diabetes, obesity, etc (all comorbidities for Covid-19) are listed.. The total number of Covid-19 now? 275,00 deaths in 9 months? How many would have occurred normally? What can you work on now for your immunity?

    Reply
  15. Gรถsta says

    November 18, 2020 at 11:13 am

    The mask reduces the risk of being exposed to virus, but the important thing is that if you are having the virus you are less likely to transmit it.

    Reply
  16. John says

    November 18, 2020 at 11:36 am

    Now do a study with N95 respirators rather than surgical and cloth masks to compare.
    See this source: https://advances.sciencemag.org/content/6/36/eabd3083 -> Supplemental Figures

    N95 and higher do work to mitigate intake of droplets for both wearer and those nearby. Granted there is a difference between a respirator and a mask, but this should be clarified.

    Reply
  17. Travis Watson says

    November 18, 2020 at 12:10 pm

    Yeah, trying to stop a virus (particularly an RNA based corona virus) is a little like trying to stop a sandstorm with a chain-link fence.

    Reply
  18. Scot says

    November 18, 2020 at 12:44 pm

    Nice job again Sharyl, keep up the fight!!!

    Reply
  19. Chip says

    November 18, 2020 at 12:56 pm

    I think we have to be careful in drawing conclusions.

    My understanding is the study says, in our present climate, where nearly everyone is wearing a mask, it doesnโ€™t matter for the healthy if they wear a mask.

    However if the sick and asymptomatic were not to wear masks, we donโ€™t know if masks are useless.

    Reply
  20. Albert Coakley says

    November 18, 2020 at 1:08 pm

    Lots of folks are making lots of money on masks

    Reply
  21. ArmyAviator says

    November 18, 2020 at 1:08 pm

    This from Major General William Gorgas, MD, ย 
    Surgeon General of the US Army, 1914-18.

    During the height of the 1918 Influenza Pandemic, there was an Army-Wide MASK requirement. However, soldiers continued to die in drives. Accordingly, General Gorgas issued his opinion regarding masks as follows:

    "While the donning of face coverings during this influenza crisis may appeal to many, its benefits in reducing the spread of infection is dubious. ย The only benefit realized, is that it reduces the number of men who chew tobacco, from spitting on the streets. ย Beyond that, the only other benefit realized, is that it makes our citizens constantly aware of the crisis at hand."

    Reply
  22. Danny Shah says

    November 18, 2020 at 1:49 pm

    Appreciate to post courageously a study. Although it raises many questions. There are microfilter masks and there are masks just for requirements which neither filters any pathogens nor covered enough with openings around.

    Reply
  23. Jim Fields says

    November 18, 2020 at 1:55 pm

    Thank you.

    Reply
  24. Dave says

    November 18, 2020 at 2:40 pm

    One of a few real journalists left.

    Reply
  25. Guy says

    November 18, 2020 at 2:45 pm

    Differs from some other studies but remember, you're not wearing them for yourself, you're wearing them for the people around you. I didn't read the study but the article doesn't address that.

    Reply
  26. Hall says

    November 18, 2020 at 3:29 pm

    Pandata.org is data analysis by a group of very serious scientists and they show in the data that masks and shutdowns are ineffective!! S h are it would be great if a serious and legit reporter like you interviewed this group.

    Reply
  27. WestcoastDeplorable says

    November 18, 2020 at 6:57 pm

    Sharyl, I wonder if the Covid virus isn't just chapter 5 of the book. Look, we had the Clinton email offense, then the Russia collusion, then Mueller, then impeachment, then the virus, and now election fraud. Think about it...if all the events are connected and intentional, it's almost too horrible to contemplate. This is MUCH WORSE than 9/11, especially if it's true as the scientist/defector stated, China developed Covid 19 as a bio-weapon and intentionally released it. What if they're in collusion with the dems?

    Reply
    • Grazia says

      November 20, 2020 at 12:31 pm

      I have the same suspicion!

      Reply
  28. D3F1ANT says

    November 18, 2020 at 7:10 pm

    If this is news to anyone then they haven't been paying attention. We've known for years that masks won't stop a virus. But...you know...control of the population and all. They need to get us used to obeying the orders of tyrants on the Left. Americans won't obey such orders unless they're afraid for their lives...so the Left MUST create a panic throughout the population. Add to the ineffectiveness of masks the fact that the virus has a 99% survival rate and you begin to recognize that this is as big a scam as Biden's "victory" over Trump...

    Reply
    • Susan says

      November 19, 2020 at 11:24 am

      AMEN!

      Reply
  29. Fred Chittenden says

    November 18, 2020 at 7:37 pm

    GIven that the eye's are a likely infection site for many viruses -- Masks without eye protection are about as useful as a condom with the top cut off.

    Reply
  30. Melissa Portie says

    November 18, 2020 at 7:47 pm

    This is not surprising.... considering there are mask mandates all over the country and have been in place for months and all of a sudden the uptick in cases. You donโ€™t need a study or to be a scientist/physician to figure that one out.

    Reply
  31. Lloyd says

    November 19, 2020 at 2:01 am

    Yup.

    Reply
  32. Daniel G. Sheridan says

    November 19, 2020 at 2:08 am

    sharyl, you're my hero. in a former life, i was an award-winning tv news producer. it's sick what these slobs have done to a once-proud profession.

    Reply
  33. Aric says

    November 19, 2020 at 8:11 am

    I do not believe in this "pandemic". I believe this to be just another flu as we have had in the past. Yes people have died from it just as in the past many have died from the flu. Many years ago I had a flu shot and about a month later was terribly sick from the flu, no need for hospitalization but missed Christmas with family.
    I do believe it is a propaganda weaponized against the public. It is a great test in controlling huge populations and is being fined tuned for future use. It is destroying many people and especially families who are suffering from unemployment resulting in loss of income which then results in hunger, home eviction and ultimately depression and possibly domestic violence.
    I put all blame on the politicians who are using this "pandemic" into scaring and thereby controlling the population into submission with not only the "disease" but fines and arrests.
    I have not worn a mask 3 times in my grocery shopping and was first told they would enforce me wearing a mask and second no one,not anyone looked at me sideways. I have felt free again. I urge people to question this "pandemic" and take back their freedom. BTW, I am 71 y/o a real potential victim of C-19 ovid but I have been just fine.

    Reply
  34. Gary Blakely says

    November 19, 2020 at 8:52 am

    The "face mask" is not designed to protect the person wearing the mask so, of course it does not reduce the odds of the wearer catching the disease. The "face mask" is designed to protect other people from catching the disease from the wearer. On the other hand the "N95 face mask" does protect the wearer.

    Reply
    • Al says

      July 29, 2021 at 11:13 am

      Even the N95 mask only protects as far as it is worn in very precise conditions. You can't touch things all around your environment with your hands then touch your mask even to adjust it. You have to have frequent mask changing to new sterile masks. And more specific rules that us medical professionals are trained to do. This is all only with N95 masks or better not all these cloth masks etc.
      It's a nice thought to think that we could have control over things like Covid-19 but just that a thought. There is no realistic world application of mask wearing period.
      Our immune systems always do better when we eat healthy, exercise and take care of ourselves. People who are high risk do their best to stay away from Gornal public until heard immunity but even that is mostly unrealistic.
      Masks for children especially young children is horrifying because there are so many reasons a mask can have adverse effects. All kids should be in school too. People don't realize that school is literally a life line for so many kids K-12.
      For the whole of society the treatment should never be worse then the disease.
      Basic logic goes a long way and I know things can be scary but we all have to fight the fear because a society ruled by fear is heartbreaking.

      Reply
  35. Jon says

    November 19, 2020 at 9:14 am

    It's just the flu. The numbers don't add up. I lost a uncle to this flu. 84 years old.. Why? Because he waited tell he was so sick he had to be transported by ambulance to the hospital. He survived for 3 more weeks. Pneumonia set in and that is what he died of. Just as one might with a more common flu or cold.
    https://wattsupwiththat.com/2020/11/17/where-are-all-the-sick-people/?unapproved=3128317&moderation-hash=03bd68761d8e2af30f63d977db002bb2#comment-3128317

    Reply
  36. No One says

    November 19, 2020 at 9:23 am

    It's almost a year, not worn a mask, no issues with Covid19, this is a scam to make people sheep and lemmings & sadly many are following. Businesses that force mask wearing I do not go too, These businesses would get more business if they posted signs that read they are not responsible if you get Covid19 entering their store mask-less.

    Race Trac gas stations, my bank and other businesses have this posted outside and they are thriving while others are not.

    There is no medical mask to date from my research that will prevent air born virus except perhaps a full hazmat uniform with oxygen tank.

    Reply
  37. Susan says

    November 19, 2020 at 11:23 am

    What I find to be interesting is that no one is saying that wearing a mask may be adding to the problem. Is that implausible? After all, people have been wearing them (a whole lot of people, even during riots) and the number of cases have skyrocketed. So, maybe masks are only exacerbating the problem.

    Reply
    • Grazia says

      November 20, 2020 at 12:34 pm

      Very well could be. I have heard that some people have gotten pleurisy because of wearing masks for prolonged time...

      Reply
  38. no says

    November 19, 2020 at 9:37 pm

    no

    Reply
  39. Cyndi says

    November 22, 2020 at 5:19 pm

    Did you know Facebook is using you as a reference to say that this study is false?
    https://healthfeedback.org/claimreview/danish-face-mask-study-did-not-show-that-masks-were-ineffective-at-reducing-spread-of-covid-19-study-was-underpowered-and-results-were-inconclusive/?fbclid=IwAR1rk00Auq3psq4p8gSxnqjPEOUSm2RBotkjE4vAGuC-vzazftYyDbZMqMQ

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Coming Soon

The Bad Shirts: High-Quality, Wearable Humor

The Sharyl Attkisson Store

Buy Great, Original Products & Support Independent Journalism

Subscribe

Get the Latest Stories Straight to Your Inbox

SUBSCRIBE TO SHARYL’S RUMBLE CHANNEL


Follow Sharyl Attkisson

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube



Footer

Pages

  • Home
  • About
  • Podcast
  • Support
  • Contact

Sitemap

2ndary Pages

  • Full Measure Stations
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Newsletter
  • Returns & Refunds Policy

SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS

  • Attkisson v. DOJ/FBI
  • Benghazi
  • Election 2020
  • Fake News
  • Fast & Furious
  • Obamacare

Copyright © 2023 ยท Log in