This article is from before they dropped droplet theory later in 2020. In the section titled “Factors to Consider when Using Cloth Masks to Protect Wearers and to Prevent Spread of Infection during the COVID-19 Pandemic”:

The primary transmission routes for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are thought to be inhalation of respiratory droplets and close contact; therefore, WHO recommends wearing medical masks during routine care and using respirators during aerosol-generating procedures and other high-risk situations (17). However, SARS-COV-2 is a novel pathogen, and growing evidence indicates the possibility of airborne transmission.

They then go on to explain that cloth masks are the option of last resort and are not very useful. Surgical masks with proper fitting around the face and a certain minimum rating for water resistance will help, but most of the “surgical” masks we were all buying do not have enough layers and no water resistance ratings, and who among us got training on how to properly fit a mask to our faces?

Dropping a link and calling it information when you don’t understand the content or haven’t read it is not productive.

Surgical/cloth are pretty much useless for COVID. N95s buy you temporary protection unless you’ve got the special face fittings needed to actually seal your face. It depends on the environment you’re in but the worst case scenarios (like enclosed spaces without high airflow), the last study I saw was on the Delta variant and they said about 15 minutes if both parties are masked. It does get better from there though, with good ventilation you might have a few hours, and being outdoors you’re actually pretty safe.

The droplet theory was dropped within the first few months. It turns out it’s not just COVID; many infections we thought were spread by droplets are actually airborne.

It’s like when Bush Jr. pushed for the adoption of reading programs across America that focused on phonics, so people took a rebellious stance and taught kids “balanced reading” which taught kids to memorize words rather than the sounds that make up words.

The result: an epidemic of illiteracy to own the Republicans. Bush was/is a warmongering piece of shit but he was right about phonics being the correct way to learn reading.

I’ve never seen self-proclaimed leftists hurl more vitriol than when an openly-socialist labor organizer in my union said they were for freedom of speech (for humans) and generally supportive of firearm ownership. Absolutely wild reaction.

Here in Canada I’ve seen much the same behaviour for both Liberal and Conservative voters. “I vote Liberal because I’ve always voted Liberal” is a surprisingly common statement especially among the older generations, and to a small extent even the Green party has a few loyalists in BC.

Always voting the same way no matter what happens is just giving your vote away for free.