Should we wear a face mask?

Question 1

equivocal

Answer 1

difficult to interpret because it seems to have two opposite or contradictory meanings.

The evidence is equivocal on it. It doesn’t tell you anything yet - hopefully that will change. So we’re thrown back on first principles and this is why, as in so many areas of public health, you get such a heated debate … .

Question 2

it stands to reason (that)

Answer 2

is obviously true from the facts.

you get such a heated debate because people are really relying on their opinion on things and you will have one group who say, ‘Well, it stands to reason’,- the good old ‘stands to reason’ argument – which is: obviously, if you’ve got a covering in front of your face, and you’re speaking or coughing into that covering, it’s going to trap quite a lot of the virus on the droplets you’ll be emitting.

However for some people, it stands to reason that masks are beneficial

Question 3

heated debate

Answer 3

discussion or argument in which people become angry and excited.

you get such a heated debate because people are really relying on their opinion on things and you will have one group who say, ‘Well, it stands to reason’,- the good old ‘stands to reason’ argument …

Question 4

emitting

Answer 4

sending out into the air, for example a noise or smell or a virus.

the good old ‘stands to reason’ argument – which is: obviously, if you’ve got a covering in front of your face, and you’re speaking or coughing into that covering, it’s going to trap quite a lot of the virus on the droplets you’ll be emitting.

Question 5

mask shaming

Answer 5

criticising, mocking or humiliating someone for not wearing a face covering.

It could also have unfortunate negative consequences terms of mask shaming – that people feel compelled to wear masks in situations where it’s actually not helpful and may be harmful …

One negative effect is the practice of mask shaming

Question 6

false sense of security

Answer 6

belief that you are safe when you are not.

But I think in addition to that, one of the problems we have is that masks can potentially create a false sense of security.

One negative effect is the practice of mask shaming, Another problem is that wearing masks might create a false sense of security – a feeling of being safer than you really are. Is that what happened in 1905?
I asked you when face masks were first widely used? And I said, b) 1905 in Chicago.