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Since the pandemic first hit the United States, debate has raged over the effectiveness of wearing a face mask to protect against the spread of the coronavirus, with the issue rapidly becoming politicized as official entities, especially the CDC, initially gave mixed messages to Americans. The result has been widespread skepticism about the effectiveness of masks. But what does the evidence say? Six months after the onset of the crisis, here is the most recent data on the potential protective impact of face masks.
Based on all available data, medical masks offer a significant level of protection against the coronavirus. Wearing homemade sheet masks, while not as effective as the resources available to healthcare professionals, could help reduce the spread and rate of infection of the coronavirus. According to a model from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluations at the University of Washington, wearing a universal mask could save 66,739 lives by December 1, compared to current projections. An Australian study by CR MacIntyre et al, found that mask adherence significantly reduced the risk of infection for influenza-like illnesses and that, during a severe pandemic, transmission within households could be reduced by the generalized wearing of the mask.
A review of all available studies found that household masks provide a useful level of filtration in the relevant droplet size range and that widespread use of masks could significantly reduce both the economic impact and the number of deaths. of the coronavirus. A study from Anfinrud et al analyzed an individual’s droplet excretion when speaking and found that a homemade fabric mask reduced the number of droplets emitted by individuals from 360 to almost 0 when they spoke, suggesting that using a mask can significantly reduce infectivity.
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 lining layer providing a additional protection, although surgical masks are always preferred. In a study published Aug. 7 by Duke University, researchers found that certain masks or mask substitutes made of thin materials, such as fleece or bandana, offer little protection, with the fleece making transmission worse by breaking down the large droplets into small particles, which linger longer in the air.
The evidence demonstrating the effectiveness of masks is supported by anecdotal accounts of masks preventing the spread of the virus. On a flight from China to Canada, a symptomatic patient who tested positive for coronavirus did not infect any other passengers on his flight, in part due to his effective use of a mask, experts say. In Missouri, two salon stylists with coronavirus did not infect any of their 140 clients; the effective wearing of masks by staff and clients was recognized. These incidents, combined with the data above, suggest that widespread mask wear can significantly reduce the spread and impact of the virus, allowing for faster reopening and minimizing the potential impact of the virus.
On July 20, President Trump tweeted a photo of himself wearing a mask and describes wearing a mask as “patriotic,” but there is still political controversy over mask wearing.
Recently, Swedish state epidemiologist Anders Tegnell claimed that “with the numbers declining quite rapidly in Sweden, we see no point in wearing a face mask in Sweden, not even on public transport.” Tegnell has been criticized for making the claim because of Sweden’s death rate of 56.59 deaths per 100,000 population, worse than that of the United States and Brazil, according to Johns Hopkins University.
Dr Rosie Frasso, director of the public health program at Thomas Jefferson University, disagrees with Tegnell. In an interview with Frasso, she told me that “based on the current state of science, there is tons of evidence that supports the use of the mask as a safe and effective way to reduce the transmission of Covid-19, so I’m afraid the Swedish epidemiologist is wrong; his opinion is inconsistent with the evidence. I am a scientist; I am the evidence. One thing that is important to remember about scientists is that when scientists get new information, they adjust their recommendations. It is regrettable that this is not true in the political space. If a politician changes his mind, even when new data becomes available, it’s an about-face. “
When discussing the use of masks as an effective strategy to fight the coronavirus, Frasso said that “we have to stack the strategies to get the maximum protection, [through a combination of] mask wear, physical distance, testing, contact tracing and isolation. I think everything must be taken into consideration; we must do everything to stop the spread until we have a vaccine. In the meantime, we need to clear up the confusion about the use of masks; controlling the spread of this deadly disease is essential. “
Some argue that a radical change in mask-wearing behavior would require mask warrants. A widely referenced study published in June by Lyu and Wehby analyzed the effects of a mask warrant by examining Washington, DC and 15 states, which required individuals to wear masks in public places where distances six feet away. social could not be maintained. . The study concluded that “requiring the use of a face mask in public could help mitigate the spread of COVID-19,” the concluding warrants were associated with a 2% decline in the growth rate over three weeks. Although this is the main strategy of 20 states during this period, the study found no evidence to suggest a decline in the daily growth of Covid-19 due to mask mandates reserved for employees, which required service providers in close contact to wear masks when working but consumers not.
Despite the political controversy surrounding masks, a majority of scientific evidence suggests that widespread wearing of the mask will help fight the coronavirus. Concerns about the violation of individual freedoms and the arbitrary application of warrants are widespread, and the ideal scenario is that people would voluntarily wear masks. Evidence suggests that if one hopes to return to work and a normal life as quickly as possible, wearing a mask is one of the best ways to do one’s part to ensure a quick and prolonged reopening.
Related: Is Herd Immunity an Effective Strategy? Here’s what the latest studies have found.
This article has been developed and edited for clarity.
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