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Topline
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released research Tuesday showing that wearing a mask will protect the wearer, strengthening its previous guidance that wearing the mask will help prevent infected people from spreading the virus, an update that is running as urged by President-elect Joe Biden. people wearing masks and confirmed cases of coronavirus in the US exceeded 10 million.
The Director of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. Robert Redfield, speaks at a press conference at … [+]
Key facts
Because the coronavirus is transmitted primarily through respiratory droplets, wearing a mask reduces the emission of virus-laden droplets, known as “source control,” and also reduces inhalation of the droplets by of the person wearing a mask, known as “personal protection leakage.” . “
Multi-layer fabric masks can block 50% to 70% of fine respiratory droplets and limit the spread of the fine droplets that are released and can block more than 80% of all respiratory droplets.
Research shows that cloth masks can reduce exposure to both types of respiratory droplets through filtration and, although effectiveness varies by mask type, multilayer cloth masks are found to be able to filter almost 50% of fine respiratory droplets.
Studies have shown the benefit of community use of masks outside the laboratory, including in homes, workplaces, and airplanes.
An analysis of US data found that increasing the use of universal masks by 15% can prevent crashes and reduce crashing-related losses of up to $ 1 trillion or roughly 5% of gross domestic product.
The CDC concluded that universal masking policies could help avoid blockages, especially when combined with adherence to other guidelines such as social distancing and hand washing.
Surprising fact
Seven studies have illustrated the benefits of universal use of masks. All found that new infections dropped significantly when organizations and political leaders demanded the use of masks. An analysis of data from 200 countries, including the United States, showed a decrease in deaths.
Key Background
Public health officials have urged people to wear masks for months, including CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield, who said in July that if everyone wore masks, the pandemic could be “under control” in four to eight weeks. Despite the directive and scientific studies indicating benefits, the use of masks has become politicized. President Trump was not seen wearing a mask in public until July and has now mocked Biden for wearing “the largest mask I have ever seen.” Biden has supported the mask mandates. While it would not have the power to implement one nationwide, the Biden-Harris transition website shows that it plans to work with governors, mayors, and other local leaders to help them demand and enforce the wearing of masks. During a public speech on Monday, Biden implored people to wear masks in the coming months, saying that thousands of lives could be saved and reiterated that “it is not a political problem.”
Large number
10,262,088. That’s the number of confirmed coronavirus cases that have occurred in the United States since the start of the pandemic, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. There have been 239,732 deaths.
Tangent
The nation reached 100,000 new cases a day for the first time on November 3 and continued to break new records for most days of the past week. There was a record 136,325 new cases daily on Monday. Public health experts, including Dr. Anthony Fauci and Dr. Deborah Birx, both on the White House coronavirus task force, have warned that the coming months could see a growing number of cases and deaths. His comments contradict repeated claims by Trump that the country is “turning the corner” from the pandemic.
Other readings
CDC’s Redfield: The US could control the coronavirus pandemic in months if everyone wore masks (Forbes)
Masks help stop the spread of the coronavirus, studies say, but wearing them remains a political problem (Forbes)
Birx, in contrast to Trump, warns that the ‘deadliest phase’ of the pandemic is approaching, calls for aggressive action by the United States (Forbes)
Trump said the United States was ’rounding the final turn’ on August 31, and in 39 of the 57 days since (Forbes)
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