Since the pandemic first struck in the US, there has been debate about how effective wearing a face mask is to protect against the spread of the coronavirus, the question that was quickly politicized, while official entities, in particular the CDC, initially Americans gave mixed messages. The result is widespread skepticism about the effectiveness of masks. But what does the evidence say? Six months into the crisis, here are the latest data on the potential protective impact of face masks.
Based on all available data, medical masks offer a significant level of protection against coronavirus. Wearing homemade cloth face masks, although not as effective as the resources available to medical professionals, could help reduce the spread and degree of coronavirus infection. According to one model from the University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluations, universal mask could carry 66,739 lives saved by Dec. 1, compared to current projections. An Australian study by CR MacIntyre et al, found that adherence to mask use significantly reduced the risk of infection for influenza-like illness, and that, in a severe pandemic, transmission within households could be reduced by widespread mask wear.
A review of all available studies found that household masks provided a useful filter filtration in the appropriate range of droplet size and that widespread mask use could significantly reduce both the economic impact and the death rate from coronavirus. A study by Anfinrud et al analyzed the exclusion of drops from an individual when talking and found that a homemade cloth mask reduced the number of drops by individuals from 360 to close to 0 when speaking, suggesting that mask use can significantly reduce effectiveness.
A 2013 study found that when asked to make their own homemade masks, 100% cotton T-shirts were the most effective masks in terms of filtration and fit, with a double layer that provided further protection, although surgical masks were still preferred. In a study published August 7 by Duke University, researchers found that some masks as mask alternatives made of thin materials, such as fleece or bandana, do not offer much protection, with fleece that reduces transmission by breaking large droplets into small particles, which lingering longer in the air.
The evidence proving the effectiveness of masks is supported by anecdotal accounts of masks that prevent the virus from spreading. On a flight from China to Canada, a symptomatic patient who tested positive for coronavirus did not infect other passengers on his flight, in part because of his effective mask use, experts believe. In Missouri, two salon stylists with coronavirus have not infected any of their 140 clients; effective mask-wearing of both personnel and patrons is assigned. These incidents combined with the above data suggest that widespread mask wear can significantly reduce the spread and impact of the virus, allowing it to reopen quickly and minimizing the potential impact of the virus.
On July 20, President Trump tweeted a photo by himself wearing a mask and wearing a mask described as “patriotic”, yet there is still political controversy over wearing a mask.
Recently, Sweden’s Sweden epidemiologist Anders Tegnell claimed that “with the numbers declining quite a bit in Sweden, we see no point in wearing a face mask in Sweden, not even on public transport.” Tegnell was criticized for making this claim because Sweden had a mortality rate of 56.59 deaths per 100,000 population, worse than the United States and Brazil, according to Johns Hopkins University.
Dr Rosie Frasso, the program director of public health at Thomas Jefferson University, disagrees with Tegnell. In an interview with Frasso, she told me that “based on the state of science at the moment, there is tons of evidence confirming mask use as a safe and effective way to reduce the transmission of Covid-19, which I fear epidemiologist from Sweden is wrong; his advice is in conflict with the evidence. I’m a scientist; I follow the evidence. One thing that’s important to remember about scientists is that when scientists get new information, they adjust their recommendations. “If a politician changes his mind, even if new data is available, he’s a flip-flop.”
Discussing mask use as an effective strategy to combat coronavirus, Frasso said that ‘we need to stack the strategies to get the most protection, [through a combination of] mask wear, physical distance, testing, traces of contact, and isolation. I think everything should be taken into account; we have to do it all to stop the spread until we have a vaccine. In the meantime, we need to raise the confusion about mask use; it is the key to fighting this deadly disease. ”
Some argue that a drastic shift in mask wear behavior would require mask mandates. A widely cited study released in June by Lyu and Wehby analyzed the effects of a mask mandate by looking at Washington, DC, and 15 states, requiring individuals to wear masks in public settings where distances of six feet from social distance do not could be kept. The study concluded that “using face masks in public could help reduce the spread of COVID-19,” finding mandates were associated with a 2% decrease in growth rate over three weeks. Despite the primary strategy of 20 states during this period, the study found no evidence to suggest a decline in the daily growth of Covid-19 as a result of only mask mandates for employees who need close contact service providers to wear masks. wear at work, but not consumers.
Despite the political controversy surrounding masks, a majority of scientific evidence suggests that widespread wearing of masks will help fight coronavirus. Concerns about the violation of individual freedoms and arbitrary enforcement of mandates are widespread, and the ideal scenario is that people would voluntarily wear masks. The evidence suggests that if one returns to work and normal life as soon as possible, wearing a mask is one of the best ways to do their part to ensure a quick and long opening.
Related: Is brain immunity an effective strategy? Here is what recent studies have found.
This article has been expanded and revised for clarity.
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