https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...rticle/2761044
- face masks are only beneficial for infected people ie to help reduce the further spread and transmission of the virus.
- The use of hand sanitizers and antibacterial agents is ineffective.
/QUOTE]
Where do you get these ideas? They are not mentioned in that article.
Surgical masks do help although they provide only slight reduction in risk for the wearer. Their biggest benefit is to reduce face touching. When worn by a whole community they have been shown to reduce the spread of the flu. P2/N95 masks do protect the wearer when worn correctly, but they are a pita to wear correctly and they stop working when they get damp from your breath.
Where do you get the idea that hand sanitisers and anti bacterial agents are ineffective? That article doesn't mention it that I can see. I would really like to know. Sanitizers should be effective. Antibiotics are ineffective but most contact antibacterial agents should also inactivate the virus.
Also, men are probably not more vulnerable but smokers are. There are more male smokers than female in China.