The use of face masks prevents the spread of Covid-19 and TRIPLES the possibility of keeping the rate of coronavirus R below 1, according to a study
- U.S. researchers sent a questionnaire to more than 300,000 people in 50 states
- The 10% increase in people wearing masks makes R 3 times less likely to be less than 1
- Experts add that wearing a mask does not mean that social distancing is not necessary
Using facial masks is an effective way to stop the spread of coronavirus, according to a baseline study.
U.S. researchers have found that a 10% increase in wearing self-reported masks is associated with a threefold increase in the odds of keeping the R number below 1.
R is the number of people to whom an infected person will transmit the virus, on average. When the R value is less than 1, it means that the epidemic is reduced.
However, scientists warn that while facial coverage may help control the transmission of Covid-19 to the community, it should not replace other measures of coronavirus such as social distancing.
The horizontal line in the color chart represents the average R rate of coronavirus compared to the number of people surveyed in an area who said they were “very likely” to wear a mask when visiting friends or family and attending the supermarket.
This map shows the percentage of each U.S. geographic region that shows the percentage of people who say they are “very likely” or “somewhat likely” to wear a mask when visiting family or friends.
U.S.-based experts said their findings, published in the journal Lancet Digital Health, suggest that communities with a high level of mask wear and physical distancing are most likely to control transmission.
They used a computer model to determine what interventions are needed to reduce the R rate below 1, which is needed for the pandemic to be considered “under control”.
Scientists found that the chances of this happening would increase 3.53 times if there is a ten percent increase in the use of population masks, regardless of the baseline.
Ben Rader, of Boston Children’s Hospital and Boston University, co-author of the study, said: “An important finding of this research is that the use of masks does not replace physical distancing.”
The researchers used a web-based survey to collect data on facial coverage habits of more than 300,000 people in the 50 U.S. states and Washington DC between June 3 and July 27, 2020.
They compared it to anonymous data from Google smartphone users showing movement patterns. This information has only been shared after users have given their consent.
In the picture, the percentage of individuals who say they are “very likely” to wear a mask to the grocery store and with family or friends in the US. The more yellow / green area, the more people in this region say it’s “very likely”
The research found a 10% increase in the number of people using hedges and caused the odds of R to be less than 1 more than triple (stock)
The researchers say the study is observational and therefore cannot demonstrate a direct causal link between mask use and transmission.
Most people in the study said they are “very likely” to wear a face mask at the supermarket (84.6%), but less than half (40.2%) wear one when they visit family.
Very few respondents reported that “they were not likely to wear any masks” (4.7%).
Wearing self-reported masks was highest among people aged 65 and over (48%) and varied among the United States, with the highest proportion of masks found on the coasts and southern border of the States. United, as well as in the cities. .
Researchers say that people who were consulted as part of the study may also have more behaviors that reduce the risk of Covid-19 infection, such as an increase in hand washing, which was not addressed. in the study.
Dr. Christina Astley, a clinician and epidemiologist at Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School and co-author of the study, said: “Our findings suggest that widespread use of face masks may help to control Sars-Cov-2 (the virus that causes 19) transmission.
“The world is facing a more transmissible strain of coronavirus, hospitals are struggling with new cases and vaccination programs are still being implemented.
‘Interventions are now needed to reduce the burden on our healthcare systems.
“This research provides additional evidence that these interventions should include the use of face masks to protect us and physical distancing.”