On trains, planes or at the doctor’s office, we had to wear face masks everywhere during the corona pandemic. And everyone seemed to understand it: opponents were sure that those face masks did not stop the virus, but fortunately there were also many proponents, because yes: face masks do protect against Covid-19.
That is now apparent a large overview study. Face masks provide important protection against viruses that are spread through the respiratory tract, researchers from, among others, write Stanford University. The discussion about the effectiveness of face masks arose in part from a focus on randomized research – in which participants are divided into an intervention group and a control group – but the researchers point out that many public health measures are never examined in this way. There have been several high-quality studies that have shown that face masks significantly reduce the spread of the virus in public spaces. This evidence should ensure that we do use face masks again in the future in the event of major virus outbreaks.
Compelling evidence
“We looked at more than forty studies conducted using seven different methodologies. The studies generally compared the amount of SARS-CoV-2 infections in people who wore face masks in different places versus people who did not,” says Tom Frieden, director of Resolve to Save Lives and former director of the American Centers for Disease Control and Prevention On Scientias.nl. “These studies are direct measurements of infection rates in different groups and provide consistent, clear and convincing evidence for the effectiveness of face masks.”
Extremely effective
But how effective are face masks exactly? “The extent to which the number of infections decreases depends on several factors, such as the intensity with which the virus spreads, where it spreads, which corona variant it concerns and how many people wear face masks,” Frieden explains. “If people wear face masks consistently, the risk of spread is reduced by 30 to 70 percent in most studies. In situations where more people consistently wore face masks or face masks were of a higher quality, the numbers were higher.” The face masks proved to be extremely effective for those who already had corona. “If an infected person wears a face mask indoors when there are others nearby, the chance of that person transmitting the virus to others is greatly reduced.”
Not necessary outdoors
According to the researcher, the evidence from dozens of studies is clear. “Face masks reduce the chance of spreading Covid and reduce the risk of becoming infected yourself. Face masks are especially important for sick or elderly people, just as indoors or in poorly ventilated places.” Wearing a face mask outdoors, as was mandatory in some European countries during the corona crisis, is not necessary. “There is very little spread of the coronavirus in the outdoors. There are exceptions, for example when a lot of people are together and there is little fresh air. But in most outdoor places, such as during a walk in the park, the chance of Covid spreading is extremely small,” Frieden explains.
Poor research and party politics
Studies therefore leave no room for misunderstanding: face masks protect against corona. How is it possible that there was so much discussion about its usefulness during corona times? “Unfortunately, research into the effectiveness of face masks has been undermined by one poorly conducted analysis and by party politics,” says the American scientist. “It is important to distinguish between the two roles of the face mask: it must protect the person wearing it and protect the people around them from the person. Another terminology for this is personal protection versus source control. If someone who has corona wears a face mask, this drastically reduces the amount of virus they spread, protecting the people around them. Because about half of the coronavirus is spread by people who do not feel sick at all, widespread use of face masks in public spaces can effectively prevent the spread. For personal protection, a high-quality face mask, such as N95 or KN95, will better serve the wearer, especially if it fits properly and is worn consistently.”
No reason for discussion
The researchers were particularly surprised that there continues to be so much discussion about the effectiveness of face masks. “The data is clear: if someone with Covid-19 wears a face mask, they are many times less likely to infect someone else, and if someone is exposed to the coronavirus, they significantly reduce their own risk,” Frieden reiterates. “Our analysis has documented that the findings from many types of studies are in line. This includes lab studies, but also different types of research in the real world. The findings show that face masks prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2. In addition, higher quality face masks, such as N95, provide better protection, provided they are worn correctly and consistently.”
2023-11-11 10:02:19
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