According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, wearing uniform masks at a hair salon in Missouri may have prevented nearly 140 clients from contracting the new coronavirus from two stylists infected with the virus.
In May, two stylists at Great Clips in Springfield, Missouri tested positive for COVID-19 after seeing clients in the salon located at 1864 S. Glenstone Ave. The stylists treated about 139 clients between them.
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However, none of the clients became ill with COVID-19. Experts attribute the use of masks, at least in part, to prevent what could have been a significant outbreak of the deadly virus.
“Among 139 clients exposed to two symptomatic stylists with confirmed COVID-19, while stylists and clients wore face masks, no symptomatic secondary cases were reported; Among 67 clients screened for SARS-CoV-2, all test results were negative, “says the report published in the CDC’s Weekly Morbidity and Mortality Report.” Compliance with the community and company facial coverage policy likely mitigated the spread of SARS-CoV-2. “
“City ordinance and company policy may have played a role in preventing the spread of SARS-CoV-2 during these exposures,” the authors added in the report, released Tuesday. “These findings support the role of source control in preventing transmission and may inform the development of public health policies during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
“Adherence to the community and company face coverage policy likely mitigated the spread of SARS-CoV-2,” says the report released Tuesday in the Centers for Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) Disease Control and Prevention.
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In addition to both stylists, 98 percent of clients who agreed to be interviewed for the report said they wore a face mask for the duration of their appointment. The other 2 percent said they wore a mask part of the time.
However, the study authors noted that the report was subject to some limitations. In particular, while the local health department “monitored all exposed clients for signs and symptoms of COVID-19, and no clients developed symptoms, only a subset was tested.”
Therefore, asymptomatic clients may have been lost, “they wrote.
“Similarly, with a viral incubation period of 2-14 days, any COVID-19 PCR test obtained from clients too early in their course of infection could yield false negative results,” the authors added. “To help mitigate this possibility, all exposed clients were offered tests on Day 5 and contacted daily for symptom control until Day 14.”
Nor was there any information on the lack of information on other protection measures, namely hand washing and the use of gloves. If incorporated, these additional measures “may have influenced the risk of infection,” the authors explained.
“Third, viral shedding is at its highest for the 2-3 days before symptoms onset; clients who interacted with stylists before they became symptomatic were not recruited for follow-up contact,” they continued. “Finally, the mode of interaction between the stylist and the client could have limited the potential for exposure to the virus. Services in Room A were limited to haircuts, facial hair trimming, and perms. Most stylists cut hair while clients are looking the other way, which could also have limited transmission. ”
Currently, there is no nationwide facial mask mandate in the United States; in fact, President Trump was recently seen wearing a face mask in public for the first time.
Although some states require that they cover their faces in public, not all do, with some governors, such as Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt, who recently tested positive for COVID-19, who strongly oppose the mandate.
However, the CDC this week called on all Americans to wear face covers after new findings that increased mask use has been effective in helping to prevent transmission of the coronavirus.
“We are not defenseless against COVID-19,” said CDC Director Dr. Robert R. Redfield. Cloth liners are one of the most powerful weapons we have to slow and stop the spread of the virus, particularly when used universally in a community setting. All Americans have a responsibility to protect themselves, their families, and their communities. “
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Lucas Manfred of Fox Business contributed to this report.
