I’m still looking for peer-reviewed research that recommends universal face mask use by the general public using non-medical grade masks. Doesn’t seem to be any. Only suggestions for more research.
Covid-19: What is the evidence for cloth masks?
BMJ 2020; 369 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.m1422 (Published 07 April 2020) Cite this as: BMJ 2020;369:m1422https://www.bmj.com/content/369/bmj.m1422
“A preprint of a rapid systematic review has assessed the current evidence on respiratory illnesses and the use of face masks (mainly surgical paper masks) in community settings.4 The paper, yet to be peer reviewed, included 31 studies, of which 12 were randomised controlled trials. The researchers reported that “wearing facemasks can be very slightly protective against primary infection from casual community contact, and modestly protective against household infections when both infected and uninfected members wear facemasks.” However, they said that many of the studies “suffered from poor compliance and controls.”
They concluded, “The evidence is not sufficiently strong to support widespread use of facemasks as a protective measure against covid-19. However, there is enough evidence to support the use of facemasks for short periods of time by particularly vulnerable individuals when in transient higher risk situations.”
Commenting on these findings, Simon Clarke, associate professor in cellular microbiology at the University of Reading, said, “There is only very limited evidence of the benefits of wearing face masks by the general public, no evidence that wearing them in crowded places helps at all, and no evidence at all yet related to covid-19 . . . The authors also acknowledge that mass face mask wearing by the public would likely cause shortages among people who genuinely need protective equipment—healthcare workers on the front line in our hospitals.” “ Another researcher in virology says if the aerosal droplet hits the weave instead of a hole, there is some protection.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment