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The Bunker – News without the nonsense

Daily: MASKS under the scientific spotlight

The Bunker – News without the nonsense

Podmasters

News, Government, Politics, Society & Culture

4.61K Ratings

🗓️ 8 October 2020

⏱️ 23 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

If there’s one symbol of the COVID fight it’s the face mask – but do we understand the consequences of a masked society? Professor Graham Martin, Director of Research at the Healthcare Improvement Studies Institute, tells Ros Taylor why the issue of masks isn’t as clear-cut as we think, why the social dynamic of masks is so important, and how we can improve the quality of debate surrounding COVID-19. “Science is about debate – it’s about disagreement.” “What we’re seeing now is science under the spotlight” “It’s not so much scientific debate that breeds conspiracy theories, but any effort to suppress debate” “If you see anyone who isn’t wearing a mask, don’t assume they’re doing it out of bloody-mindedness” “I would say to anyone, if you can wear a mask, do so” Presented by Ros Taylor. Produced by Andrew Harrison. Assistant producer Jacob Archbold. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Alex Rees. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

My name is Stan. I'm at. Nice to meet you. So you took up photography where? I've always loved

0:05.5

photography but I turn it into earning a living at 60. I enrolled on a day course.

0:11.8

Well college. I loved going to college. It's good you can retry. I'm enrolled on the day course. But college?

0:13.0

I loved going to college.

0:14.0

It's good you can retrain and do something.

0:16.0

Yeah, yeah.

0:17.0

Let's talk about working, learning, saving and making the most of living longer.

0:22.0

Phoenix Group is the UK's largest long-term savings and retirement business.

0:28.0

Search Phoenix Group living longer.

0:30.0

Pets brings so much joy.

0:32.0

From those happy greetings at the door to the warm cuddles on the sofa

0:36.7

so give a little love back with dental life from Purina a range of delicious chues made for dogs and tasty snacks for cats that help clean and support your pets, teeth and gums, essential for their overall well-being and a happy, healthy life. They give you plenty of smiles so

0:55.3

look after theirs with dental life. Pick up dental life in the pet food aisle. Hello and welcome to another bunker daily I'm Ros Taylor. If there's one symbol of this invisible virus it's surely the face mask.

1:15.4

Britain took to them later the most other European countries but they're now compulsory

1:19.1

in most indoor public spaces. Our masks don't yet seem to have become the cultural flashpoint, but they are in the US.

1:26.0

But that doesn't make them a panacea.

1:28.0

Talking to me today is Professor Graham Martin, Director of Research at the Health Care Improvement Studies Institute at Cambridge.

1:34.8

Hello Graham.

1:35.8

Hello, Raz, nice to talk to you.

1:38.7

He specializes in the organisation and delivery of health care, which which sounds a bit dry but is pre-agent right now and is the co-authorer of several recent articles on face coverings and other issues around COVID.

1:51.0

He's been arguing for a more nuanced, less polarized debate about COVID-19.

1:57.0

Great, and back in the spring, there was a big push, especially from the left, for people to wear masks. It was similar to the

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