A randomized study on the effectiveness of medical masking VS N95s for preventing PCR confirmed covid infection was just published, here is the verdict:
Medical masks were non-inferior to N95s. In other words, N95s were not effective at reducing covid infection compared to surgical masks.
Infections:
Medical mask: 52 of 497 (10.46%)
N95s: 47 of 507 (9.27%)
This intention to treat analysis included data from 29 healthcare facilities in Israel, Canada, Pakistan, and Egypt May 2020-March 2022 where 1009 healthcare workers were randomized to wear either surgical masks, or N95s for 10 weeks.
As far as criteria, those not N95 fit tested within the past month, had at least 1 high-risk comorbidity, or were 1 dose vaccinated with a vaccine 50%+ effectiveness, were excluded.
Results, N95s were not meaningfully better at preventing COVID-19 infection relative to medical masks (HR: 1.14 [95% CI: 0.77-1.69]).
Moreover, this study revealed constant masking actually harmed a significant amount wearers, especially N95ers. “There were 47 (10.8%) adverse events related to the intervention reported in the medical mask group and 59 (13.6%) in the N95 respirator group”.
https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/M22-1966
https://acpjournals.org/doi/suppl/10.7326/M22-1966/suppl_file/M22-1966_supplement.pdf
LETS CONNECT:
New Mask Study: N95s Were Ineffective Against Preventing COVID-19 Infection