Wearing face masks will stop the spread of Covid-19 and reduce R-speed

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Wearing face masks stops the spread of Covid-19 and TRIPLES the chance of keeping the coronavirus R rate below 1, study finds

  • American researchers conducted a questionnaire for more than 300,000 people in 50 states
  • Increase of 10% in people wearing masks makes it 3x as likely that R is less than 1
  • Experts add that wearing a mask doesn’t mean social distance is unnecessary

By Joe Pinkstone for Mailonline

Published: | Updated:

Wearing face masks is an effective way to stop the spread of the coronavirus, a groundbreaking study shows.

Researchers in the US have found that a 10 percent increase in self-reported mask wearing is associated with a three-fold increase in the likelihood of keeping the R-number below 1.

R is the number of people to whom one infected person transmits the virus on average. If the R-value is less than 1, it means that the epidemic is decreasing.

However, the scientists warn that while facial covers can help control Covid-19 transmission in the community, they should not be a substitute for other coronavirus measures, such as social distancing.

The horizontal line in the colored box represents the mean R rate for the coronavirus compared to how many respondents in an area said they would 'very likely' wear a mask when visiting friends or family and going to the supermarket

The horizontal line in the colored box represents the mean R rate for the coronavirus compared to how many respondents in an area said they would ‘very likely’ wear a mask when visiting friends or family and going to the supermarket

This map shows the percentage of each geographic region of the US and shows the percentage of people who say they are 'very likely' or 'somewhat likely' to wear a mask when visiting family or friends

This map shows the percentage of each geographic region of the US and shows the percentage of people who say they are ‘very likely’ or ‘somewhat likely’ to wear a mask when visiting family or friends

The US-based experts said their findings, published in the journal Lancet Digital Health, suggest that communities with many reported mask wearing and physical distances are most likely to be able to control transmission.

They used a computer model to determine what interventions are needed to bring the R-rate below 1, which is necessary for the pandemic to be considered ‘under control’.

The scientists found that this is 3.53 times more likely to happen if there are 10 percent more people wearing 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 study is that wearing a mask is not a substitute for physical distance.”

The researchers used a web-based survey to collect data on face covering habits of more than 300,000 people in all 50 US states and Washington DC between June 3 and July 27, 2020.

They compared this with anonymized data from smartphone users from Google that shows movement patterns. This information was only shared after users gave their consent.

Pictured: The percentage of people who say they are 'very likely' to wear a mask to the supermarket and with family or friends in the US. The more yellow / green an area is, the more people in that region say they are 'very likely'

The photo shows the percentage of people who say they are ‘very likely’ to wear a mask to the supermarket and with family or friends in the US. The more yellow / green an area is, the more people in that region say they are ‘very likely’

Research found that a ten percent increase in the number of people using coverages resulted in a chance that R was less than 1, more than tripled (stock)

Research found that a ten percent increase in the number of people using coverages resulted in a chance that R was less than 1, more than tripled (stock)

Wear a mask in the office, at school and OUTSIDE, says the WHO

According to new guidelines from the World Health Organization (WHO), people in areas with high transmission of Covid-19 should wear a face mask indoors, including in offices and schools.

In private homes, upholstery must also be worn when someone who does not live there.

Other additions to the guidance include children over 12 years old who follow the same advice as adults and wear a mask outside when social distance of one meter is not possible.

In the updated guidance, WHO admits there is ‘limited evidence’ that the masks stop the transmission of coronavirus.

Recent studies have found conflicting evidence about masks, with a groundbreaking piece of research that does not prevent the wearer from catching the virus.

Researchers say the study is observational and therefore cannot show a direct causal relationship between mask wearing and transmission.

The majority of people in the study said they are “ very likely ” to wear a face mask to the grocery store (84.6 percent), but less than half (40.2 percent) wear one when visiting family.

Very few respondents indicated ‘probably not wearing a mask at all’ (4.7 percent).

Self-reporting of mask wearing was highest among people 65 and older (48 percent) and varied in the US, with the highest percentage of reported mask wearing along the US coasts and southern border, as well as in cities.

Researchers say it is possible that the people surveyed as part of the study are also more likely to exhibit other behaviors that reduce their risk of Covid-19 infection, such as more hand washing, which were not covered 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: Covid-19) transmission.

The world is struggling with a more communicable strain of coronavirus, hospitals are struggling with new cases and vaccination programs are still being rolled out.

“Actions are now needed to reduce the burden on our health care systems.

“This research provides additional evidence that those interventions should include wearing face masks to protect ourselves and also maintain physical distance.”

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