The idea that wearing masks is daft because they cannot stop airborne viruses has emerged again as a reason for them not to have been worn during the pandemic.

They were never intended to stop airborne viruses!!!! They were intended to reduce the load of virus by capturing sneezes and coughs. Less heavy load equals less severe infections, which the immune system has a better chance of fighting and the NHS was less likely to be required.

They were just one part of an overall strategy to try to keep infections as low as possible until the vaccines were available. A strategy we were obligated, as a community working together, to play our role in.

Those who failed to do so, without good reason, whatever their personal reservations have my total contempt for their selfishness.

Yes people were arrested but generally only after gentle persuasion had failed. If you ignore a legal requirement then you face consequences whether you agree with the requirements or not.

Spanish flu hit when there was no possibility of a vaccine and the way society operated was very different.

I am currently in Israel and the level of mask wearing, on the streets, here remains well above what we see at home.

Your point being? You can still get infected regardless. Didn't realise that was such a revelatory thing, clearly it is for you for some reason

It's your protection against significant illness as a result of infection that is important. I do sometimes wonder what people like you actually read

Sleepy joe said that you won't catch covid if you get the vaccine.

Clearly the people back home follow the science more than those in Israel.

And Japan. They love a mask.