(Ed. note: refreshing to see this as nothing but a political power play for control and not health, and to also see that Bennett and Biden share the talent of lying through their teeth when they open their mouths)
People wearing face masks for fear of the coronavirus at the Ben Gurion International Airport on March 10, 2020, as people are cancelling trips due to the fear of the coronavirus. Photo by Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90
A commission of top health officials assembled last year to discuss the scientific data collected concerning the effectiveness of masks. The commission concluded that there was no indication that masks were effective against infection or its spread and that masks had several drawbacks. Nonetheless, a few days after these conclusions, a mask mandate was put in place and to this day, lawmakers claim “scientific proof that masks are effective.”
DOCTORS DEMAND FREEDOM OF INFORMATION
In March, over one year ago, the Israeli Ministry of Health mandated the wearing of masks in public. The reason given on the Ministry’s website was that masks prevent the spread of coronavirus via small droplets that are sprayed from talking or coughing. In addition, the Ministry claimed the mask prevents people from touching their mouth and nose reducing the risk of infection by touch.
These claims seemed dubious to the Public Emergency Council for the Covid19 Crisis (PECC), an independent organization made up of leading physicians, researchers, and social welfare professionals. As a concerned citizen, Gadi Shiloh, a lawyer who supports the work of the PECC, sought to investigate the mask mandate further. He filed a Freedom of Information request regarding the data and considerations that led to the Ministry’s decision to impose a mask mandate.
“By law, they are required to answer within 30 days, though they have the option to extend that another 30 days,” Shiloh explained. “In the end, I had to go to court to get a response.”
In March, over one year ago, the Israeli Ministry of Health mandated the wearing of masks in public. The reason given on the Ministry’s website was that masks prevent the spread of coronavirus via small droplets that are sprayed from talking or coughing. In addition, the Ministry claimed the mask prevents people from touching their mouth and nose reducing the risk of infection by touch.
These claims seemed dubious to the Public Emergency Council for the Covid19 Crisis (PECC), an independent organization made up of leading physicians, researchers, and social welfare professionals. As a concerned citizen, Gadi Shiloh, a lawyer who supports the work of the PECC, sought to investigate the mask mandate further. He filed a Freedom of Information request regarding the data and considerations that led to the Ministry’s decision to impose a mask mandate.
“By law, they are required to answer within 30 days, though they have the option to extend that another 30 days,” Shiloh explained. “In the end, I had to go to court to get a response.”
COMMITTEE CONCLUDES”NO SCIENTIFIC PROOF MASKS EFFECTIVE”
The four-and-a-half-page response was shocking. It contained highlights of the discussion of the Team for Treating Epidemics (TTTE) on March 30, 2020-April 1,2020 concerning the wearing of masks. The discussion was based on a paper prepared by Prof. Yehuda Carmeli from the National Institute of Antibiotic Resistance and Infection Control. The discussion included the experiences of several countries that had employed the policy of mandating masks.
Surprisingly, the first benefit of mask mandates discussed was educational and not medical.
“…The position was expressed that wearing masks has an educational message as part of maintaining hygiene and social distance…,” the paper stated. “It also has a psychological effect, on the other hand. In the absence of a professional or factual basis, the TTTE will have a hard time coming out with a recommendation to walk around with masks. There is no well-founded scientific proof that the mask reduced morbidity.”
“…There is no strong scientific basis for the new policy. It seems that a mask gives protection but the numbers are average and do not constitute scientific proof of effectiveness…”
Not only was there no evidence that masks were effective but there were even reasons masks were seen as counterproductive.
“There may arise excess public confidence in the masks resulting in a decrease in responsiveness to maintain social distance,” the report continued. “There is a concern that the fabric absorbs a lot of moisture which reduces its effectiveness as a filter.”
The report suggested that the “national resource” of masks should be reserved for use by health professionals to better serve public health interests.
“There is doubt about the effectiveness of using a mask to prevent infection,” the report continued. “One of the proposals raised was to examine the use of masks for the general public as a means of escaping or reducing the need for a stricter lockdown.”
As one of its recommendations, the TTTE listed informing the public of the fact that there is no evidence that masks are effective at preventing infection. The group recommended adherence to hygiene and social distancing as measures effective at preventing infection.
Cloth masks and masks made by the individual were deemed more effective than surgical masks but were still only effective when used along with “other means.”
The paper also noted that prolonged wearing of masks could be harmful to people with heart and lung impairments.
Dr. Carmeli expressed concern that “a change in policy may confuse the public and it is necessary to decide.”
“It is important to make sure that wearing masks does not cause harm and also be aware that the harm may outweigh the benefit,” he wrote. “There is also the importance of the psychological aspect that gives people a false sense of security.”
The report recommended that public guidelines be clear and written, and “required in a place with crowd concentrations. Otherwise, it will produce a problem of responsiveness.”
MANDATED NONETHELESS
Despite these conclusions being drawn by the committee in March 2020, a mask mandate was enforced just a few days after this paper was issued, requiring Israelis to wear masks outdoors at all times. It was not until April 2021 that the outdoor mask mandate was lifted. The reason given for lifting the requirement was high vaccination rates and there was no mention in the media or by the government of the ineffectiveness of masks affecting the decision.
Masks are still required in indoor public spaces.
Despite these conclusions being drawn by the committee in March 2020, a mask mandate was enforced just a few days after this paper was issued, requiring Israelis to wear masks outdoors at all times. It was not until April 2021 that the outdoor mask mandate was lifted. The reason given for lifting the requirement was high vaccination rates and there was no mention in the media or by the government of the ineffectiveness of masks affecting the decision.
Masks are still required in indoor public spaces.
MINISTRY OF HEALTH STILL CLAIMS MASKS “REDUCE INFECTION”
In fact, a public document justifying the mask requirement by the Ministry of Health is still posted online, claiming that masks reduce infection.
“Masks covering the mouth and nose greatly reduce the chance of getting infected and infecting others,” the paper claims. “The masks protect those who wear it, as well as others around them, therefore, when a carrier of the virus meets a non-carrier, if both are wearing a mask, the protection against infection is doubled,” the Ministry claimed, without offering its source.
Even more disturbing is its recommendation concerning N95 masks and masks with valves.
“The N95 masks protects from transmission as well, but is not required, except when treating severely ill patients in hospitals undergoing respiratory procedures,” the Ministry of Health wrote. “Masks with valves – not suitable in the community because the valve emits air with pressure that can cause spraying of droplets and therefore transmission.”
The TTTE research concluded differently:
“Indicate in the recommendations that N95 masks with exhaust valves are not good and are forbidden to use. It is important to generate a connection to the matter in the explanation.”
PM BENNETT: “SCIENTIFIC PROOF”
Prime Minister Bennett explicitly called on the public to wear masks in a speech in July as one of the necessary measures for combating the pandemic.
“Masks have been proven scientifically effective especially in protecting yourselves and those around you,” Bennett stated. “When two people wear masks, with all of the viral load that we mentioned, the likelihood goes down by 98%. Therefore, every citizen must wear a mask in closed spaces. This is not a recommendation, this is a legal requirement.”
Prime Minister Bennett explicitly called on the public to wear masks in a speech in July as one of the necessary measures for combating the pandemic.
“Masks have been proven scientifically effective especially in protecting yourselves and those around you,” Bennett stated. “When two people wear masks, with all of the viral load that we mentioned, the likelihood goes down by 98%. Therefore, every citizen must wear a mask in closed spaces. This is not a recommendation, this is a legal requirement.”
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