CV and mad panic behaviour

[PaulP]

Without saying that masks are ineffective I have read in more than one place that they are not exactly at the top of the list of effective counter measures. One description was "like trying to catch mossies in chicken wire" , but I don't claim to actually know. I personally wear one as there is nothing to lose by doing so afaic.

I think the general medical consensus is that they will have some effectiveness for what is essentially a respiratory illness spread by airborne particles. How much effectiveness is up for debate. But as you say, you lose nothing by wearing them. And if you move around in certain places, like supermarkets, maintaining a 1.5m distance the whole time is impossible.