A study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences says that wearing a face mask is the most effective way to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Researchers came to the conclusion after analyzing mitigation measures and trends in Italy, New York City, and Wuhan, China, from Jan. 23 until May 29.
Their analysis found that airborne transmission is the dominant mode of spreading the coronavirus. For that reason, wearing a mask can significantly reduce transmission.
Among other results, the researchers discovered that mask-wearing in Italy reduced the number of infections there by more than 78,000 from April 6 to May 9 and more than 66,000 from April 17 to May 9.
In each of the three locations, mask-wearing was concluded to be the determinant factor in decreases in the spread of the disease.
The paper reads, “Other mitigation measures, such as social distancing implemented in the United States, are insufficient by themselves in protecting the public. We conclude that wearing of face masks in public corresponds to the most effective means to prevent interhuman transmission, and this inexpensive practice, in conjunction with simultaneous social distancing, quarantine, and contact tracing, represents the most likely fighting opportunity to stop the COVID-19 pandemic.”
