How a beauty salon demonstrates the difference masks make in the fight against coronavirus (COVID-19)

DETROIT – Many people have wondered how effective cloth coronavirus masks can really be (COVID-19). Health officials say a beauty salon demonstrates exactly how important they are in the fight.

Beauty salons were among the last businesses to reopen in Michigan due to concerns about prolonged close contact between stylists and clients.

But the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention used a stylist at Great Clips in Springfield, Missouri, in a published report. It could be the best case study to show how masks make a difference.

On May 12, the stylist developed symptoms of COVID-19. He continued working for eight more days until receiving a positive result, according to the CDC.

A second stylist also developed symptoms during that time and continued to work until the co-worker tested positive.

During that time, the infected stylists directly worked on 139 clients.

Stylists and their clients were following city and company policy by wearing cotton facial masks or surgical-style masks.

Only five clients had worn N-95 masks. Based on tests and interviews, none of the clients, their close contacts, or other stylists in the salon were infected.

The researchers believe that the constant use of facial coatings prevented the spread.

How did the first stylist infect the second? The two co-workers spent time together without masks between clients, according to the CDC.

Contact trackers found that the first stylist transmitted the virus to her husband, daughter, son-in-law, and roommate, all of whom lived in the same home.