What does "total" mean here? Is this some kind of "on a long enough timeline, everyone's dead" reasoning?

Limiting rate of spread is the same thing as reducing how many infections there are at any given time. Or, the total over a bounded time frame. I don't think "well there will still be about the same total number of infections by 2025 with or without masking" is a useful observation.

Think logically about what you just wrote... Masks can and do in fact limit the total spread/infections.

> I think it can be claimed that it limits the rate of spread, not total spread/infections.

Sure. We're probably all getting this thing at some point. But, that's why I said "until all ages are able to be vaccinated."

I really wish the US and other countries would take the Singapore route and require the unvaccinated assholes clogging up our medical system (and exhausting our highly trained/educated/caring physicians and nurses) to pay their own healthcare costs incurred due to COVID.

Having the unvaccinated directly realize some cost for their own ignorance seems highly appropriate here. Although I suppose at least some of them are paying the ultimate price with their life, which is also very unfortunate.