“Our findings suggest, in multiple ways, that the use of masks is highly protective in health-care and community settings,” review author Holger Schünemann, an epidemiologist and physician at McMaster University in Ontario, told The Washington Post. Jeffrey Shaman, an epidemiologist at Columbia University, agreed, adding, “anecdotally, it appears that face-mask use is an important control against multiple modes of SARS-CoV-2 transmission.” He highlighted countries like South Korea, Taiwan, and Vietnam that “have had better success squashing the virus and keeping their economies going,” because of their high rates of face-mask use early in the pandemic.ae0fcc31ae342fd3a1346ebb1f342fcb The most dangerous manner by which the COVID-19 pathogens are spread is via exhalation and inhalation of aerosolized droplets via sneezing, coughing, or even heavy breathing from exercise or talking loudly. While mask-wearing doesn’t entirely prevent the spread, a protective covering over one’s mouth and nose greatly reduce the spread of the contagion. RELATED: For more up-to-date information, sign up for our daily newsletter. While face masks have become a political football amid the pandemic, if there is one thing on which almost everyone can agree in this divided time, it’s that we all would like to return to some sort of pre-pandemic normalcy. But what has not been in agreement is how to end the spread of the potentially deadly COVID-19 contagion—until this recent report. And for more on face masks, check out 10 Myths About Face Masks You Need to Know.
