Jefferson explains that the entire point of the Cochrane review was to systematically sift through all the available randomised data on physical interventions such as masks and determine what was useful and what was not. “It might be that Fauci is relying on trash studies,” said Jefferson. “Many of them are observational, some are cross-sectional, and some actually use modelling. That is not strong evidence.”
Smerconish brought up the 2023 Cochrane review which found no evidence that physical interventions like face masks could stop viral transmission in the community and cited my interview with lead author of the study Tom Jefferson who confirmed, "There is just no evidence that they [masks] make any difference. Full stop."
Fauci replied, "Yeah but there are other studies," stressing that masks work on an individual basis.
Professor Tom Jefferson, who says he is committed to updating the Cochrane review as new evidence emerges, has responded to Fauci's comments.
"So, Fauci is saying that masks work for individuals but not at a population level? That simply doesn't make sense," said Jefferson.
Fauci advocated for the use of cloth masks, and even encouraged double-masking in the absence of evidence.
Columnist Zeynep Tufekci wrote an article in the New York Times titled, "Here's Why the Science Is Clear That Masks Work," claiming that Cochrane's mask study had misled the public.
As it stands, the Cochrane review will continue to be the subject of attacks because it presents a major roadblock for implementing masking policies.
https://brownstone.org/articles/author-of-cochrane-mask-review-responds-to-fauci/
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