Study showing no mask effectiveness hasn't been peer reviewed yet, will see if the methodology holds up.

This one found the opposite - https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/10.1377/hlthaff.2020.00818

Just on taking in raw data it seems like on earlier surges places with no mask mandates were hit hard. On most recent surges it seemed like that trend changed, mask mandates didn't seem to matter as much. Lot of factors, places that ended mandates early tended to have summer weather sooner, could be that had an impact.

The thing I love about science it that it changes with evidence. Covid still new, still a lot to learn, the recommendations have changed with evidence. Lately in the US I think the CDC could do a better job communicating, seems to be a lot of confusion over here and a variety of mask policies now as the case numbers are down and we start to get back to more normal.

If the evidence ends up being that masks didn't help, that's fine, we learned something new for sure about Covid. It was never about control, it was about doing our best to save lives.