THE MOST MASKED EUROPEAN COUNTRIES HAVE THE BIGGEST CORONAVIRUS SURGES

“If we just wore these masks,” Joe Biden said, at the final presidential debate, holding up a mask like a totem, “we can save 100,000 lives.” The Democrat nominee’s plan for fighting the coronavirus was all about wearing masks. And indeed the only notable element of Biden’s plan has been a national mask mandate. But would that actually work? Would it even save one life, never mind 100,000? Few European countries have been more mask-obsessed than France. In July, France issued a national mask mandate compelling everyone to wear masks indoors in public spaces. Anyone caught not wearing a mask would face a fine of around $150. In August, Paris and a number of other regions imposed mask rules for anyone leaving the house.