Covid-19, anti-masks are in the news

Audio 03:22

A transparent mask.

(illustrative image) AFP / Oli Scarff

By: Sophie Malibeaux

9 min

Faced with the observation of an increase in Covid-19 contamination, the obligation to wear a mask to protect oneself is tending to become widespread.

But in a certain number of countries, including France, the anti-masks are giving voice.

Among the most refractory arguments, circulating a number of infox.

Publicity

The most dangerous infox spread by anti-masks aims to pass off this means of protection as a measure harmful to health.

We see circulating on social networks warnings against wearing a mask which would be responsible for a decrease in oxygen intake, inhalation of toxins, carbon dioxide poisoning, while its effectiveness against virus remains to be proven.

This is incorrect information, because the mask is not hermetic to the point of preventing the passage of oxygen.

It is just as wrong to evoke the absorption of toxins insofar as we do not exhale toxin while breathing, we do release carbon dioxide, but it can escape the mask without problem because the mask does not stick to the skin.

To poison yourself with carbon dioxide, you have to inhale significant concentrations.

No symptom of this nature has ever been observed among nursing staff accustomed to wearing it.

These arguments are dismantled point by point in the fact checking of the factual AFP with the help of Jean-Luc Gala, head of clinic at the Saint-Luc university clinic in Brussels and specialist in infectious diseases, as well as the epidemiologist doctor Yves Coppieters, professor of public health at the Free University of Brussels (ULB).

As for the effectiveness of the mask against the coronavirus, if we stick to the description of the

, it is shown that surgical masks have a filtration capacity of microorganisms of 90 %, or even 99% for FFP2 masks.

The efficiency is lower for fabric masks, but it is not negligible, around 50 to 70% depending on the very variable manufacturing method of this type of mask.

A relatively minority mistrust

The current of anti-masks infox that is pouring out on the Internet is not representative of the majority of the population, even if it manages to mobilize people in the street for one-off demonstrations.

If the constraint is variously appreciated, we see that the obligation to wear a mask is now rather well respected in the streets of major cities in France.

On the other hand, what escapes the comprehension of the majority of people is the reason why the authorities started by deeming it unnecessary for the general public.

At the start of the health crisis, while other countries - especially in Asia - immediately advocated the wearing of masks, the communication from the French authorities remained ambiguous.

President Macron has since explained: “ 

 "And to add:"

 "

The publication of the recommendation “ 

 ” dates from May 5.

But it was during the summer that the obligation to wear it outdoors began to spread, by prefectural decree.

On the side of the World Health Organization, the same hesitation prevailed over wearing a mask at the start of the crisis.

It took many studies on how the virus was transmitted before the WHO recommended the mask for the general public and not just healthcare workers.

From the moment when scientists established a

- which the WHO confirmed on July 13 - the use of masks to curb contamination has become indisputable, even if it is only 'one means among others: hand washing and social distancing also remaining recommended in the absence of an effective remedy and vaccine against the virus.

Infox with conspiratorial overtones

Since the start of the school year, the debate has raged on this measure.

Certain inconsistencies are pointed out, for example the fact of exempting cyclists, but not bikers, or even intra-European disparities in the application of barrier measures, between those who impose the mask on entry to school, and those who exempt children up to the age of 11, as is the case in France.

Social networks abound with incongruous images, questions, denouncements and other aberrant fines.

Several anti-mask groups have registered on Facebook, some of which also relay conspiracy theories refuting the very existence of the virus.

The mask is presented there as a gag, an instrument of submission.

This justifies in their eyes the calls for civil disobedience.

The most extreme cite theories from the United States, where the mask is presented as a

, a scheme to oust Donald Trump from power.

These theories are taken up by those who already rose up against the confinement.

They are particularly present in certain “yellow vests” groups, propagated by Internet users who call for a “awakening” of populations against the established order.

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