Off with the masks!

My wife and I have decided the masks are forever off.  Should anyone question us on our decision, our response will be “we’re just not doing that bullshit anymore”.  Sure, there might be some situations when donning a mask is a social grace, like entering the UPS store or teaching a class, when a fight is just not worth it.  But mainly, we’re done.  There was no reason to expect that masks, with their 300 nm pore size, would stop the 100 nm coronavirus. Even back in 1918, at the time of the Spanish Flu epidemic, studies concluded that mask use did not impede transmission of the virus.  St. Anthony’s back and forth last winter should have been a clue that masks had their power as symbolism rather than prevention.  Have you ever seen the Haz-mat suits that people who study viruses actually wear?  The latest ramp up that the more expensive N95 should prevail over Omecron points even stronger at the nonsense of the whole dictate.  N95 masks let pass but 5% of particles 100 nm or smaller.  So did Omecron shrink in all of its mutations?  If not, why is this shield now preferred for a virus with far less virulence?  I’ve taken to tack a strip saying “N96” onto my cloth mask, indicating its evident superiority.  If “11” was good for Spinal Tap.  Time to pass all the damned masks into a big bonfire.  Better get an EPA impact statement.