My Letter To The St. Joseph On Mask Fines

I was asked to write a letter to the St. Joseph (Indiana) ahead of their vote on mask mandate fines for local businesses. This is what I sent them.

 

Commissioners,

Most of you know who I am. I wanted to send you just a small sample of actual scientific research on masks and their effectiveness on viral spread as well as real-world data ahead of your vote on the mask fine ordinance.

My goal is to present a small sample of the abundant research showing masks aren’t nearly as effective as many suggest. I ask that you set aside any confirmation bias you may already hold and just look at what I’ve included here.

I suppose the first thing is to look at the real-world data.

Experts originally opposed mask requirements because people would inevitably not use them correctly. They would abandon the other, more effective, measures to prevent infection. They would no longer wash their hands or socially distance themselves or stay home. Those warnings have all come true.

In early March, Dr. Anthony Fauci told “” face masks were not necessary for the general population, noting that while masks might make people “feel a little bit better,” they don’t provide the protection folks believe they do and might create “unintended consequences.”

Fauci wasn’t alone. I covered dozens of infectious disease experts at the time who said the same thing. Virologist Dmitry Lvov is another expert to look at. He said in March you can wear them but they don’t provide much protection. I don’t want to provide a list of experts who don’t buy into the mask hype. My point is that there is no scientific consensus on masks being effective.

A great starting point is to look at this study by Dr. Brosseau, a national expert on respiratory protection and infectious diseases and professor (retired), . Dr. Sietsema is also an expert on respiratory protection and an assistant professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago.​

https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2020/04/commentary-masks-all-covid-19-not-based-sound-data

Masks went from the least important, least effective measure you can take to becoming the primary means of preventing yourself from getting infected. ​The CDC’s own data shows that the overwhelming number of people who get COVID wear the mask in accordance with mask mandates in the US. If masks worked the way some local health officials have said, the infection rate for mask wearers shouldn’t be so high (over 3/4 of those infected wear masks regularly).

In August, the AP said declining COVID cases in the U.S. were due to mask mandates. Gov. Holcomb said the same about Indiana. Look what’s happened since then. Massive spikes. That shouldn’t be possible according to the mask hype from local health officials. A study showing masks reduced COVID infections was just retracted because the areas used in the study all had spikes after the study was completed.

It’s not just the . Mask mandates have been in effect going back to January of 2020 in some countries. All have spikes in COVID infections. Below are the countries having spikes and when their mask mandate went into effect:

  • Germany – mask mandate went into effect April 22
  • France – mask mandate May 10
  • Italy – mask mandate went into effect August 16
  • South Korea – mandate May 26
  • Rwanda spike – mandate April 9
  • spike – mandate first week of June
  • has had near 100% mask-wearing from the beginning of the outbreak but have a huge spike now. NYT headline on June 6: Japan’s coronavirus numbers are low, are masks the reason why?
  • Austria spike – mandate April 6
  • has a massive spike but was one of the first countries to have a mask mandate
  • Israel spike – mandate April 12 and had some of the strictest quarantine policies in the world.
  • Spain spike – mandate May 20
Here’s some visual graphs to illustrate the data above. All of which you can confirm with a simple internet search in a few seconds.
In other words, everywhere in the world that mask mandates have been in effect, the virus has continued to spread. Why? Because COVID is airborne. We originally didn’t think it was and focused on droplets. Masks can work on droplets by reducing the distance a droplet travels. No mask, not even N95, work on airborne viruses. The CDC’s website even states that masks don’t filter the COVID virus. They also sent a statement to Tucker Carlson in October saying: “At no time has CDC guidance suggested that masks were intended to protect the wearers.”
During the recent wildfires in California, people were using their COVID masks as protection from the smoke particles. The CDC had to point out cloth masks don’t work on those particles. The size of those particles are .4 to .7 microns in size. COVID is .12 microns in size.
Some recent studies on masks and viral transmission:
  • Jacobs, J. L. et al. (2009) – Face mask use in HCW was not demonstrated to provide benefit in terms of cold symptoms or getting colds.
  • Cowling, B. et al. (2010) – None of the studies reviewed showed a benefit from wearing a mask to prevent spread of influenze, in either HCW or community members in households.
  • bin-Reza et al. (2012) – “There were 17 eligible studies. … None of the studies established a conclusive relationship between mask/respirator use and protection against infection.”​
  • Radonovich, L.J. et al. (2019) – “Among 2862 randomized participants, 2371 completed the study and accounted for 5180 HCW-seasons. … Among outpatient health care personnel, N95 respirators vs medical masks as worn by participants in this trial resulted in no significant difference in the incidence of laboratory-confirmed influenza.”
There are others, but you get the idea. Up until this pandemic, the scientific community understood that masks of all kinds do not prevent viral spread or infection. Suddenly, without real evidence, they do now.
There exists no peer-reviewed clinical trial showing masks are effective. Only preliminary lab results, some of which have problematic methodology. Never in history has a preliminary lab result been considered scientifically viable evidence. Until now.
I don’t write to you to debate the efficacy of masks. I write you to point out that, without a doubt, masks have not worked as some had portrayed them to. In Michiana, people are abiding by mask mandates en masse with very few exceptions. Not only is it not based on sound science or the real-world data to enforce mask mandates under penalty of law, but it is counterproductive considering the widespread adherence to the mandates in place now.
Furthermore, violating a ‘s property rights to require them to be an enforcer of these mandates under penalty of fines would be a gross abuse of power. Encroaching on their rights in this fashion would always be problematic, but to do so knowing the ordinance is enforcing, with penalties, mandates that have proven beyond the shadow of the doubt to be ineffective would be a dereliction of duty.
I understand the immense pressure government and officials are under to make it seem like they are trying to fight this virus and protect citizens. I understand it is easier to just go along to get along so you can say at least you tried at election time. However, to allow such government abuse over a mandate that isn’t working under the false guise that it would somehow magically start working now because there are penalties would be a violation of your oath of office. Surely, there is another way without setting the government up to abuse citizens just to appease the mob that has produced no evidence this would work to begin with.
Sincerely,
Casey Hendrickson
Radio Talk Show Host – 95.3 MNC
UPDATE: Corrected some grammatical errors since I was rushing to get this letter sent before my show.
UPDATE 2: Added context of why I wrote this letter to the top of the post.

Daily Show Prep: Wednesday, May 20

Hour 1

https://www.953mnc.com/2020/05/20/indiana-will-advance-to-stage-3-of-back-on-track-plan-beginning-friday-may-22/

Donald Trump Threatens to Punish Michigan for Mailing Absentee Ballot Applications to Voters

Key Michigan Court Sides with Gretchen Whitmer over Emergency Powers

Whitmer: I’ve Had ‘Opening Conversation’ with Biden Campaign About VP Pick

Virus Survey Reveals Most, Least Free States: South Dakota Best, Illinois Worst

States with the Fewest Coronavirus Restrictions

‘Operation Haircut’: Michigan Barbers Defy Lockdown, Offer Haircuts On Capitol Lawn

https://twitter.com/RealCaseyH/status/1263198844977852417


Hour 2

Report: Planned Parenthood Affiliates Improperly Applied For $80 Million. They Got It. Now The Government Wants The Money Back.

Lawyer: Full Video Shows That Ahmaud Arbery Was Chased By The McMichaels For More Than Four Minutes

Joe Rogan announces his podcast — ‘The Joe Rogan Experience’ — will move to Spotify in September

altCensored: Website Fights Censorship By Hosting Deleted YouTube Videos

https://altcensored.com/


Hour 3

moving to Phase 3

https://twitter.com/dbongino/status/1263184357486886912

‘You Just Got Blown Out Of The Water!’: Greg Gutfeld Uses Video To Fact-Check Juan Williams On Hydroxychloroquine

Covid Patients Testing Positive after Recovery Are No Longer Infectious, Study Finds

https://hotair.com/archives/ed-morrissey/2020/05/20/cdc-director-americas-ready-start-grand-reopening/

Australian study: COVID-19 spreads in schools ‘considerably less’ than influenza

CDC updates guidance to say COVID-19 ‘does not spread easily’ through touching contaminated surfaces

 

Daily Show Prep: Thursday, March 19 – Back From Quarantine

Hour 1

South Bend, St. Joseph County under Travel Watch, more confirmed cases of COVID-19

Indiana Governor Signs Multiple Executive Orders To Help Hoosiers

Operation: Restaurant Rescue

Tulsi Gabbard ends presidential campaign, backs Joe Biden

Good News? China Reports No New Cases In Wuhan Epicenter; Axios: Let’s Not Forget China’s Deceit

Trump economic relief plan would give $3,000 to family of four

Historic $1.3 billion — and growing — raised to fight virus

Coronavirus Vaccine Trial Opens in US With First Doses

Trump Says Possible Coronavirus Treatment Coming Soon as Cases Pass 10,000

French Peer-Reviewed Study: Our Treatment Cured 100% Of Coronavirus Patients

Have they found a cure for the coronavirus? Australian researchers claim two existing drugs could ‘cure’ COVID-19 after patients they tested responded ‘very well’ to treatment

Canadian Research Team Makes Breakthrough On Coronavirus

Japanese flu drug ‘clearly effective’ in treating coronavirus, officials say

Report: Plasma Therapy Showing ‘Excellent’ Results Against Coronavirus

Nobel Prize Winner Who Predicted China Slowdown: Italy Nearing Slowdown, Israel Will Have 10 Deaths Max From Coronavirus

Death rates of coronavirus may be HALF initial estimates by world health chiefs, promising study finds

 

Hour 2

Casey explains why he’s in isolation

New York Stock Exchange To Close Trading Floor Over Coronavirus

DOJ drops charges against ‘Russian trolls’ after they dared demand evidence in US court

Google employee hits pro-life activist on video, then countersues him for $5 million for ‘injury to feelings’

Surprise! Anti-Gamergater SJW “Journalist” Convicted of Attempting to Entice a Minor Into a Sexual Act

SONY PLAYSTATION 5: FULL SPECS AND DETAILS RELEASED

Trump considering ‘full pardon’ for Michael Flynn after FBI ‘lost’ records

 

Hour 3

Panicked Leftists Surprised They Can’t Just Purchase a Gun Online Like They Were Told

WATCH: Martha MacCallum Nails Biden Adviser Symone Sanders For Politicizing Coronavirus

Chinese State-Run Agency Reportedly Threatened China Could Withhold Lifesaving Drugs From U.S. Tom Cotton Has Bill That Would End U.S. Dependency On China.

REPORT: Coronavirus Outbreak Could Have Been Reduced By 95% If China Acted Sooner

Trump Sought to Expand Virus Drug Tests Over FDA Objections

Stanford Professor: Data Indicates We’re Severely Overreacting To Coronavirus

Trump Trolls Press – March 19 Hour 1

Back from !

South Bend, St. Joseph County under Travel Watch, more confirmed cases of COVID-19

Indiana Governor Signs Multiple Executive Orders To Help Hoosiers

Operation: Restaurant Rescue

Tulsi Gabbard ends presidential campaign, backs Joe Biden

Good News? China Reports No New Cases In Wuhan Epicenter; Axios: Let’s Not Forget China’s Deceit

Trump economic relief plan would give $3,000 to family of four

Historic $1.3 billion — and growing — raised to fight virus

Coronavirus Vaccine Trial Opens in US With First Doses

Trump Says Possible Coronavirus Treatment Coming Soon as Cases Pass 10,000

French Peer-Reviewed Study: Our Treatment Cured 100% Of Coronavirus Patients

Have they found a cure for the coronavirus? Australian researchers claim two existing drugs could ‘cure’ COVID-19 after patients they tested responded ‘very well’ to treatment

Canadian Research Team Makes Breakthrough On Coronavirus

Japanese flu drug ‘clearly effective’ in treating coronavirus, officials say

Report: Plasma Therapy Showing ‘Excellent’ Results Against Coronavirus

Nobel Prize Winner Who Predicted China Slowdown: Italy Nearing Slowdown, Israel Will Have 10 Deaths Max From Coronavirus

Death rates of coronavirus may be HALF initial estimates by world health chiefs, promising study finds