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The best way to reduce transmission of the corona virus is to wear a face mask, according to research findings
A research team in Texas and California compared trends in Covid-19 infection rates in Italy and New York before and after facial masks were made mandatory. Both locations began to see even rates of infection after mandatory facial mask measures, according to research published Thursday in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
The researchers calculated that wearing face masks prevented more than 78,000 infections in Italy between April 6 and May 9, and more than 66,000 infections in New York City between April 17 and May 9.
“Wearing face masks in public in the most effective way to prevent human-to-human transmission, and this inexpensive practice, in conjunction with social juxtaposition, quarantine and simultaneous contact tracing, is the most likely fighting opportunity to stop a COVID pandemic -19, before developing vaccines “they wrote.
The researchers measured the effectiveness of various strategies to stop the spread of infection and determine how the virus spread. The virus can spread through direct contact when someone coughs or sneezes on someone else; indirect contact, when someone coughs or sneezes on an object which is then touched by another person; or in the air through large droplets that fall quickly to the ground and small droplets, called aerosols, which can travel several feet and hang in the air for a while.
To determine how the main virus transmission method, the researchers analyzed trends in infection rates in three pandemic centers – Wuhan, China, Italy, and New York City. They looked at mitigation measures used at these locations, such as extensive testing, quarantine, contact tracing, social distance and mandatory use of face masks.
The researchers then compared the time when the action was taken. In China, all actions are carried out at the same time. Instead, mitigation measures are implemented at different times in Italy and New York.
This allows researchers to assess the relative effectiveness of these actions. They found infection rates in Italy and NYC only began to slow down after mandatory face masks, not after locking was put in place in Italy or after home stay orders were put in place in New York.
Regions in northern Italy began requiring face masks on April 6 with national mandatory use ordered on May 4. The use of face masks in New York City is required starting April 17. The researchers counted the number of infections prevented between that date and May 9.
“Face masks prevent airborne transmission by blocking the atomization and inhalation of aerosol containing viruses and contact transmission by blocking the shedding of virus droplets,” they wrote. “On the other hand, social distance, quarantine, and isolation, in relation to hand sanitation, minimize contact transmission (direct and indirect) but do not protect against air transmission.”
The study notes that unlike China, the use of face masks was not popular in much of the Western world during the beginning of the pandemic outbreak. But researchers say evidence shows the mask functions to slow the spread.
The researchers write that the World Health Organization and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention emphasize the prevention of contact transmission, but both organizations largely ignore the importance of airborne transmission routes.
“Current mitigation measures, such as social distance, quarantine, and isolation carried out in the United States, are not enough to protect the public,” the researchers wrote.
The team of five researchers came from Texas A&M University, Texas University, University of California, San Diego, and California Institute of Technology.
Italy has been locked nationally since March 9, but Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said at a press conference late Thursday that the country was increasingly reducing coronavirus locking measures to allow professional sporting events, such as the Coppa Italia soccer match, to be resumed closed doors from day to day. Friday.
Other properties can also be reopened starting June 25, including summer camps, kindergartens, betting rooms, and bingo rooms, Conte said, announcing that he had just signed an edict that eases further locking steps. Non-professional sports involving physical contact can also be continued.
Livia Borghese from CNN contributed to this report.
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