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A former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) blasted a study from Denmark published Wednesday which concluded that surgical masks do not protect against the coronavirus.
In an editorial responding directly to the study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine (AIM), former CDC director Thomas Frieden wrote: “While no single strategy can control the pandemic, widespread masking in the community can mitigate the spread as part of a comprehensive approach. ”
“An N95 mask is better than a surgical mask. A surgical mask is better than most fabric masks. A cloth mask is better than nothing, ”Frieden said.
The study, published in AIM, was noted by critics as having several issues, namely that the study relied heavily on patient-reported home tests during a period of low infection rates in the region. Denmark and where other mitigation measures had already been put in place.
The test subjects were divided into two groups, with one group being asked to wear masks while the other had to do without. Of the 4,862 who completed the study, 42 mask wearers and 53 who did not wear a mask contracted the coronavirus in each group.
Those infected made up 1.8 percent of mask wearers and 2.1 percent of the control group, with the results deemed not statistically significant.
Researchers at the University of Copenhagen who conducted the study found that the results were inconclusive, but later noted that wearing masks did not appear to reduce infection rates.
The Danish study’s findings run counter to growing evidence from other studies that wearing a mask is one of the best ways to reduce infections, according to the New York Times.
A CDC report released last week found that not only does wearing a mask protect the general public from transmission, it also protects the wearer of the mask.
In September, CDC director Robert Redfield told senators that a mask was guaranteed to provide at least some protection for all wearers.
“We have clear scientific evidence that they work, I could even go so far as to say that this face mask is safer to protect me against COVID than when I take a COVID vaccine because the immunogenicity can be 70%. and if I don’t. I don’t get an immune response, the vaccine won’t protect me, this face mask will, ”Redfield said.
On Monday, NIH Director Francis Collins called the masks “a medical device that saves lives” and not “an invasion of your personal freedom.” He stressed the need to remember the three W’s, “wear your mask, watch your distance and wash your hands”.
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