I actually support masks in schools. There's solid scientific evidence backing it as a mechanism to help limit the spread of COVID. Until all ages are able to be vaccinated, it seems like a prudent course of action.
It's unfortunate that people are trying to turn such things into political statements.
What does "total" mean here? Is this some kind of "on a long enough timeline, everyone's dead" reasoning?
Limiting rate of spread is the same thing as reducing how many infections there are at any given time. Or, the total over a bounded time frame. I don't think "well there will still be about the same total number of infections by 2025 with or without masking" is a useful observation.
> I think it can be claimed that it limits the rate of spread, not total spread/infections.
Sure. We're probably all getting this thing at some point. But, that's why I said "until all ages are able to be vaccinated."
I really wish the US and other countries would take the Singapore route and require the unvaccinated assholes clogging up our medical system (and exhausting our highly trained/educated/caring physicians and nurses) to pay their own healthcare costs incurred due to COVID.
Having the unvaccinated directly realize some cost for their own ignorance seems highly appropriate here. Although I suppose at least some of them are paying the ultimate price with their life, which is also very unfortunate.
It's unfortunate that people are trying to turn such things into political statements.