I want to explain why I worry. First the conclusion to this: Facemasks in the COVID-19 era: A health hypothesis.

The existing scientific evidences challenge the safety and efficacy of wearing facemask as preventive intervention for COVID-19. The data suggest that both medical and non-medical facemasks are ineffective to block human-to-human transmission of viral and infectious disease such SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19, supporting against the usage of facemasks. Wearing facemasks has been demonstrated to have substantial adverse physiological and psychological effects. These include hypoxia, hypercapnia, shortness of breath, increased acidity and toxicity, activation of fear and stress response, rise in stress hormones, immunosuppression, fatigue, headaches, decline in cognitive performance, predisposition for viral and infectious illnesses, chronic stress, anxiety and depression. Long-term consequences of wearing facemask can cause health deterioration, developing and progression of chronic diseases and premature death. Governments, policy makers and health organizations should utilize prosper and scientific evidence-based approach with respect to wearing facemasks, when the latter is considered as preventive intervention for public health.

OK. It’s an argument. Maybe it’s true, maybe it’s not. But then this: Democrats Furious Over Stanford Study that Found Masks are Useless Against COVID. The results of studies like this should not be a politicised issue but it is. It would be one thing if I thought they were worried about bad science becoming generally believed, but that is the last thing I think Democrats (and the political left in general) worry about. They are worried that some of the political power that has accrued to them because of Covid might slip away.