Chicago City Wire

Dan Proft, host of AM560’s “The Answer” radio show, commented on Dr. Anthony Fauci’s response to studies saying masks were ineffective in preventing the spread of respiratory illness. He also said the CDC makes recommendations that politicians use to make policies, but neither takes responsibility.

"Fauci on masks: they work individually but not collectively, per studies he won't identify," Proft wrote in a Sept. 5 tweet. "Fauci on mandates: CDC only makes recommendations (that pols follow so they can point the finger at each other and both can avoid responsibility for outcomes)."

In the tweet, Proft shared a link to a Real Clear Politics article that focused on a recent appearance on CNN by Fauci, former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease. The Real Clear Politics article zeroed in on two exchanges between Fauci and CNN personality Michael Smerconish.

Smerconish said, "There is a perception out there by many, how many, I don't know, that they don't work, and that the data concludes that they didn't work in the first go-round."

Fauci responded by saying, "Yes, well, that's not so. I mean, when you're talking about at the population level, that the data are less strong than knowing that if you look on a situation as an individual protecting themselves or protecting them from spreading it, there is no doubt that masks work."

Smerconish went on to quote an Oxford epidemiologist, Tom Jefferson, whose review of studies conducted on the efficacy of mask-wearing during the COVID-19 pandemic found that masks worn by individuals, no matter what type of mask was being worn, did not make any difference concerning a person's health. 

"How do we get beyond that finding of that particular review?" Smerconish said.

Fauci responded to Smerconish by saying, “Yes, but there are other studies, Michael, that show at an individual level for individual when you're talking about the effect on the epidemic or the pandemic as a whole, the data are less strong. But when you talk about as an individual basis of someone protecting themselves or protecting themselves from spreading it to others, there's no doubt that there are many studies that show that there is an advantage.”

A Sept. 4 Newsweek article also focused on Fauci’s words and on politicians who reacted to the admissions, which come as some areas are requiring masks on site to halt the spread of two new variants of COVID-19. The article quoted Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, who questioned mask usage in 2021. "Fauci admits that masks don't work for the public at large but still absurdly claims masks work on an individual basis. More subterfuge," he said.

The CDC told the publication that there are no plans for mandated mask-wearing.

Proft is a radio host and entrepreneur who ran for Illinois governor in 2010, according to Ballotpedia. In 2018, Proft endorsed Jeanne Ives for governor.