Ditch Mask Mandates, UC Berkeley Expert Says: Report

BERKELEY, CA — Medical experts are virtually monolithic in their view that mask-wearing is a remarkably safe and effective way to contain the spread of airborne illnesses such as COVID-19 that figures to be an important tool as cases rise and new variants emerge.

But it’s time to ditch mask mandates, according to a UC Berkeley expert who says that requiring facial coverings at this stage in the pandemic would be more trouble than its worth.

Dr. Arthur Reingold, who heads UC Berkeley’s epidemiology department, in an interview with ABC 7 cited the public’s unwillingness to wear masks properly, combined with the lack of political will to enforce a mandate that would make a meaningful impact as the primary factors that have shaped his views.

"People often wear poor-quality masks, number one, and perhaps even more important they don't wear the mask correctly," Reingold told the television station.

"I've sat in airports the last few months and watch people walk by with masks over their chins, many more with masks over their mouth, but not covering their nose... it's not surprising that in the real world, masks don't work as well as they do in the laboratory. I don't think we're prepared to enforce mask mandates in a way that makes mandates effective."

Asked if he’d attend a Golden State Warriors game in the NBA finals this week, Reingold told ABC 7 he’d go but would mask up.

“I would wear an N95 or a KN94 and do the best I can, fitting it over my hairy face and probably not be eating or drinking during the game," he said.

Read more at ABC 7