Unfortunately that study doesn’t cover the question we want answered:
The control arm was ‘standard practice’, which comprised mask use in a high proportion of par-
ticipants. As such (without a no-mask control), the finding of a much higher rate of infection in the cloth mask arm could be interpreted as harm caused by cloth masks, efficacy of medical masks, or most likely a combination of both
So the study found evidence that surgical masks are better than cloth masks, but doesn’t say anything about whether cloth mask are better than nothing.
The study authors speculate that cloth masks are detrimental, but after reading through the study again, I’m pretty sure they provide absolutely no evidence for that (2 out of 1607 people in their study didn’t wear masks).
Unfortunately that study doesn’t cover the question we want answered:
So the study found evidence that surgical masks are better than cloth masks, but doesn’t say anything about whether cloth mask are better than nothing.
The study authors speculate that cloth masks are detrimental, but after reading through the study again, I’m pretty sure they provide absolutely no evidence for that (2 out of 1607 people in their study didn’t wear masks).