In a new study, researchers found that not wearing a face mask dramatically increases a person’s chances of being infected by the COVID-19 virus.
The research was conducted by a team at Texas A&M University and elsewhere.
The team examined the chances of COVID-19 infection and how the virus is easily passed from person to person.
From trends and mitigation procedures in China, Italy, and New York City, the researchers found that using a face mask reduced the number of infections by more than 78,000 in Italy from April 6-May 9 and by over 66,000 in New York City from April 17-May 9.
These results clearly show that airborne transmission via respiratory aerosols represents the dominant route for the spread of COVID-19.
By analyzing the pandemic trends without face-covering using the statistical method and by projecting the trend, they calculated that over 66,000 infections were prevented by using a face mask in little over a month in New York City.
The researchers conclude that wearing a face mask in public corresponds to the most effective means to prevent inter-human transmission.
This inexpensive practice, in conjunction with social distancing and other procedures, is the most likely opportunity to stop the COVID-19 pandemic.
This work also highlights that sound science is essential in decision-making for the current and future public health pandemics.
This study establishes very clearly that using a face mask is not only useful to prevent infected coughing droplets from reaching uninfected persons but is also crucial for these uninfected persons to avoid breathing the minute atmospheric particles (aerosols) that infected people emit when talking and that can remain in the atmosphere tens of minutes and can travel tens of feet.
The team says that many people in China have worn face masks for years, mainly because of the bad air quality of the country.
The results should send a clear message to people worldwide—wearing a face mask is essential in fighting the virus.
The lead author of the study is Renyi Zhang, Texas A&M Distinguished Professor of Atmospheric Sciences and the Harold J. Haynes Chair in the College of Geosciences.
The study is published in PNAS.
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