Why Are We Wearing Face Masks?

Video Transcript:

I was sent this article a few days ago and it's from the Sydney Morning herald. It's an old article 17 years ago, April 27, 2003. It's a head-lined, fast mask. It's safe for only 20 minutes. I don't know if that's a spelling mistake or not. But given, I found this article interesting, given VAPS, certainly in the UK and I know in Australia, certainly in Melbourne at the moment where they've just gone into lockdown and they're being told they have to wear these masks everywhere except in their own home. And in the UK, you pretty much have to wear a face mask, face covering in any sort of public area, supermarkets. More and more people are wearing them out on the street to see people in their cars, things like that. So what were they saying 17 years ago about this? Who cash in on community fears about SARS, severe acute respiratory syndrome by exaggerating the health benefits of surgical masks could face fines of up to $110,000. New South Wales Fair Trading Minister, ReBurmiga yesterday warned that distributors and traders could be prosecuted if it was suggested the masks offered unrealistic levels of protection from the disease. How things have changed. I'm sure everyone would agree that it is an unAustralian to profiteer from people's fears and anxieties. It appears to be some debate about whether surgical masks are able to minimise the effects of SARS. Me and Gassada Department would investigate any complaints about false mass claims which concern the public. Panalties can range from fines of $22,000 for an individual or $110,000 for a corporation which is said. Health authorities have warned that surgical masks may not be an effective protection against the virus. Ah, no shit. Those masks are only effective as long as they are dry. Professor Yvonne Kousart, sorry if I'm saying these names wrong, of the Department of Infectious Diseases at the University of Sydney. As soon as they become saturated with the moisture in your breath, they stop doing their job and pass on the droplets. I mean, how often do you see people pulling these masks out of their pockets, putting them on using them over and over again and they are useless? Professor Kousart said that could take as little as 15 or 20 minutes after which the mask would need to be changed. Those warnings haven't stopped people snapping at the mask with retails reporting, they're having trouble keeping up with demand. Oh, you got this. And this is in 2003 when really this SARS outbreak didn't receive anywhere near the publicity that COVID-19 has. Ah, Mr. Berler agreed with Professor Kousart's assessment regarding the effectiveness of the masks. I think the marginal benefit. In a way, here we go, in a way they give some comfort to people who think they're doing as much as they can do to prevent the infection. It's virtue signaling, all these people walking around in masks, particularly the idiots on their own on the street, nowhere near anybody. They have no idea why they're wearing them. That seems to be the mentality of travelers to Asian destinations who were buying and wearing the masks while overseas. Rosemary Taylor of Kiri Billy arrived in Sydney from Shanghai last week after two in holiday in China. He's Taylor and traveling companion, Jones, Switzerland and wore the mask during the trip home, even though they had been worn there of a little value. Why'd you wear it then? Look at this. We were told you need 16 layers on your mask for it to offer 95% protection, Mr. Taylor said. I mean, we've been told certainly here in the UK that people should start wearing two, three or four masks. This woman's saying she's been told 16 layers. And looking up an average surgical mask has three layers. Looking up yourselves, I've already done it. It's very easy to find. You need 16 layers to offer 95%. Imagine wearing that over your face. It's just ridiculous. It really is. So this is back in 2003. I don't know. It's bullshit, guys, isn't it? Thanks for watching. Like and share the video. Subscribe to the channel if you haven't already done so. Yeah. Catch you on the next one. All the best.