New CDC guidelines say masks also protect wearer

Breaking from its tentative recommendations on mask use so far, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Tuesday that the use of masks benefits wearers, which goes beyond its previous statement that the wearing masks would only protect those around them.

“Experimental and epidemiological data supports community masking to reduce the spread” of the virus, the CDC said in a paper that details the scientific evidence supporting the use of the mask. “The individual benefit increases with the increasing use of masks in the community,” he says.

The unequivocal statements depart from the agency’s previous language, which suggested that “the latest science could convince” Americans to wear masks and that the use of masks could prevent an infected person from spreading the virus to others. other. “The main protection that individuals derive from masking occurs when other people in their communities also wear face masks,” he says.

The agency also made an economic case, saying that a 15% increase in the proportion of people wearing masks could avoid the need for lockdown and reduce associated losses of up to $ 1 trillion, or about 5% of proceeds. gross interior.

The new paper lists several studies that “confirmed the value of universal masking,” as well as observational studies that have proven its usefulness, including an example of two masked hairdressers who experienced symptoms but did not. transmitted the virus. to one of their 67 masked clients who were subsequently contacted. The document also referred to a study of 124 households in Beijing in which the use of masks significantly reduced transmission of the virus, and an outbreak aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt in which face covers appeared to have reduced the risk of 70% infection.

Experts said they were excited to see the change in the CDC’s stance, and in particular the focus on face covers that protect wearers.

“This is important for public health messaging, because we don’t yet have people fully convinced of the benefits of masking until they see the CDC say it protects you and your family as well,” said Dr Monica Gandhi, a disease expert at the University of California, San Francisco.

“I encourage all Americans to adhere to the masking guidelines now as we hear more clearly today that it will protect you and others,” Dr. Gandhi said. “We cannot afford more closures, but we can do our part to stop the transmission and disease of Covid-19.”