2021 Texts Show Fauci, Walensky Knew Cloth Masks Had Limited Benefit

1 articles · Updated · Fox News · Aug 26

August 2021 text messages released by Sen. Ron Johnson show epidemiologist Michael Osterholm telling Anthony Fauci, Rochelle Walensky and others that cloth face coverings offered only limited protection against SARS-CoV-2 transmission.
Osterholm wrote he was texting "to avoid any FOIA issues" and said industrial hygienists found cloth masks had virtually no protective benefit versus no respiratory protection, while N95s were needed against aerosol spread.
The messages also said CDC-backed studies used to support claims of significant protection from cloth masks did not stand up to scientific scrutiny and that the agency was late to recognize aerosol transmission.
The release adds to earlier disclosures from Fauci's private communications and is likely to intensify scrutiny of the gap between internal discussions and public COVID guidance.