Implementing a nationwide mask mandate, coupled with complementary public health measures, could reduce the spread of the coronavirus to near zero and have a potential $ 1 billion impact on U.S. GDP, according to researchers at UCLA Fielding School of Public Health.
The team’s research “makes it clear that even as vaccines are developed and new variants are discovered, such as B.1.7.7, the power to protect ourselves still remains in our hands as individuals,” says co-author Anne Rimoin, a UCLA Fielding School professor of epidemiology.
“Wearing a mask is one of the simplest, most effective, and inexpensive ways to do just that – and this has been proven by the history of epidemiology over the past century, back to the flu pandemic of 1918-19 and beyond.” she said.
“Reducing the spread of disease requires two things: limiting contact of infected individuals through physical distance and other measures and the chance of transmitting contact,” said co-author Christina Ramirez, a professor of biostatistics at Fielding School. ‘The predominance of evidence suggests that masked wear reduces transmissibility per contact by reducing the transmission of infected respiratory particles in both laboratory and clinical contexts. ‘
The findings – published in the January issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, a peer-reviewed journal – were the work of an international team of 19 UCLA specialists and more than a dozen other universities and research centers, including Oxford University, the University of Cape Town, Beijing University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of San Francisco.
Another three cases of the COVID-19 variant were San Diego County. Annette Arreola reported January 1, 2021.
R0, pronounced “R nothing”, is a mathematical term that indicates how contagious an infectious disease is. It is also called the reproduction number. As an infection is transmitted to new people, it is reproduced. It reduces reproduction to zero, in turn, could add $ 1 billion to US GDP, the authors said.
“When used in conjunction with widespread testing, contact tracing, quarantine of anyone infected, hand washing and physical distance, face masks are a valuable tool in reducing community transmission,” Rimoin said. ‘All these measures, by their effect on R0 can reduce the number of infections. If governments close down, the transfers will be low enough to maintain healthcare capacity, critical until vaccines are developed and widely available. ‘
To reach their conclusions, the team examined a wide range of new and existing studies and research, including work dating back to an outbreak of plague in northeastern China in 1910. According to the researchers, scientists have admitted that the cloth mask was ‘the main means of personal protection’.
There is also ample evidence from the current pandemic, said study co-author Jeremy Howard, a researcher at the University of San Francisco.
‘By the end of June 2020, almost 90% of the world’s population lived in regions that used almost universal masks, or had laws requiring masks to be used in some public places, and the use of community masks was practiced by almost all major public health agencies. recommended. Howard said. “This is a profound change in the early days of the pandemic, when masks were rarely recommended or used.”
The researchers came to a variety of conclusions, including:
- Face masks were 79% effective in preventing transmission, if used by all household members before symptoms occurred.
- The use of masks was highly protective, with a 70% risk reduction for those who always wore a mask when going out.
- Shipping was 7.5 times higher in countries that did not have a mask mandate.
- The difference between U.S. states with mask mandates and those without found that the daily growth rate was 2 percentage points lower in states with mask mandates, and estimated that by May 22, the mandates prevented 230.00 to 450,000 COVID-19 cases.
- Face masks have a major reduction effect on infections and deaths, with a potential impact on US GDP of $ 1 billion if a nationwide mask mandate is applied.
- The marginal benefit per cloth mask worn is between $ 3000 and $ 6000.