What we’re seeing is a lot of magical thinking. A lot of wishful thinking. Cloth masks are wishful thinking.
The idea that cloth masks will protect anybody from contracting COVID-19 is magical thinking, Lisa Brousseau, ScD, expert on infectious diseases, Professor (retired), University of Illinois at Chicago, tells Infection Control Today.
"I would really strongly encourage hospitals to stop asking people to send them cloth masks and instead asked for respirators. I don’t necessarily discourage the public from wearing them if it makes them feel comfortable, but I hope they don’t think that they’re protecting themselves."