Maskien tehoa epidemian ehkäisyssä on arvioitu kautta linjan liian rajatusti, jonka lisäksi maskidebatti on pysynyt alkeellisena. Toinen ryhmä on maskien puolella ja heidän kantansa on syntynyt tehokkaan mainoskampanjan ansiosta. Toinen ryhmä on ollut alusta asti oikeassa – maskit ovat tehottomia, mutta perustelut pohjautuvat toisinaan virheelliseen tietoon. Maskien ominaisuuksien lisäksi olennaisia tekijöitä arvioidessa tehokkuutta ovat tartunta-annos, pisaroiden ja partikkelien leviäminen, tartuntatilanteet, ilmaantuvuus, pisaratartunnan todennäköisyys, maskin käyttötavat, terveyshaitat, rasite ympäristölle, tuotannon hinta ja inhimillinen kärsimys, sekä maskin symbolinen merkitys osana hygieniateatteria ja hysteriaa. Marginaalistakin hyötyä tulee punnita tätä kaikkea vastaan, jota ei ole tätä selvitystä aiemmin käsitelty kokonaisvaltaisesti. --- FIN-UNMASKED 2021: Study on the efficacy and harms of face masks and hygiene practices in the prevention of a viral epidemic The efficacy of masks in epidemic has been assessed across the board too narrowly and the mask debate has remained rudimentary at best. The side that sees masks as essential protection have formed their opinion due to effective advertising campaign. The second group has been right from the beginning – the masks are ineffective, but the reasoning is sometimes based on incorrect information. Aspects that are relevant in evaluating efficacy of face masks include infectious dose, droplet and particle spread, situation, incidence rate, probability of droplet infection, habits related to use of mask, long-term and acute health hazards, environmental factors, cost of production of PPE including cost of suffering, and lastly the symbolic significance of masks as part of hygiene theater and hysteria. Even a marginal benefit must be weighed against all these factors, which has not been assessed comprehensively before this study.

This review has been completed in its entirety and independently by one Finnish author between January to July 2021, Both the scientific analysis and essays are politically neutral and do not target any specific instance, person or organization unless this has been explicitly specified. The author will not participate even anonymously to potential public discussion, so that unnecessary speculation regarding this can be avoided.