Research supports face mask effectiveness
Many AZ cities require them; some cities don’t
Gov. Doug Ducey gave local governments the authority to mandate and enforce face mask policies to slow the spread of COVID-19, citing new research concluding their effectiveness.
“An important part of containing the spread is the use of masks,” he said at a news briefing Wednesday in his first strong public endorsement of masks.
“Last week’s study that was widely reported talks about the effectiveness of masks, and real data brought more urgency to our expanding the use of them throughout the state,” he said.
It’s unclear what study the governor was referring to, but a growing body of research supports mask-wearing to lessen the transmission of COVID-19, which is largely spread through droplets from people’s mouths and noses.
Many Arizona municipalities are now requiring masks in public; some don’t, and others are expected to mandate them in the coming days.
“If you do go out, wear a mask. It’s the smart thing to do,” Ducey said. But the governor stopped short of mandating masks statewide, saying needs vary by location and a mask requirement might not be appropriate in all parts of the state.
Research studies support the use of face masks
An increasing number of research studies point to masks as useful in preventing or lessening COVID-19 transmission. A June 1 article in the Lancet, a top medical journal, reviewed 172 different observational studies from 16 countries and found face mask use could largely reduce the risk of infection.
A study published June 11 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences journal found that COVID-19 transmission is primarily airborne, and that widespread mask-wearing “significantly reduces the number of infections.”
Without masks, social distancing is not enough, according to the article, which studied trends in Wuhan, China, Italy and New York City.
“We conclude that wearing of face masks in public corresponds to the most effective means to prevent interhuman transmission, and this inexpensive practice, in conjunction with simultaneous social distancing, quarantine, and contact tracing, represents the most likely fighting opportunity to stop the COVID-19 pandemic,” the study says.
Another study published June 10 by researchers at Britain’s Cambridge and Greenwich Universities found that when individuals wear face masks — with or without lockdown periods — spread of the virus can be significantly mitigated.
“Our models show that facemask adoption provides population-level benefits, even in circumstances where wearers are placed at increased risk,” the article says.
Masks can reduce the rate of spread, prevent future waves and allow for more reopening, according to the study.
“The effect is greatest when 100% of the public wear facemasks.”
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends mask-wearing, especially in areas with significant community transmission, like Arizona, regardless of whether an individual has symptoms or not.
“Your cloth face covering may protect them. Their cloth face covering may protect you,” the organization says.
The CDC says cloth face coverings should be worn in public settings when physical distancing of six feet is hard to maintain — places like grocery stores and pharmacies, for example.
The organization released new guidance on Friday for “events and gatherings,” which includes recommendations for cloth face masks, especially in crowded settings.
Even if you feel perfectly healthy, you could be carrying the virus and be asymptomatic or presymptomatic. Even without symptoms, you can still spread the virus, so a cloth face mask is still important to protect those around you.
Joshua LaBaer, director of the ASU Biodesign Institute and leader of the university’s COVID-19 research efforts, said Wednesday that Arizona’s recent trends are concerning and that the single most effective way for Arizonans to slow the spread is by wearing masks in public.
When people speak, they produce 2,600 droplets per second, and those droplets are the main way the virus spreads, he said.
“If we’re wearing a mask when we talk and the person we’re talking with is wearing a mask, the likelihood of transmission drops precipitously. We know masks are incredibly successful at blocking transmission,” he said.
The CDC says anyone older than 2 should wear masks. People who have trouble breathing or have physical impairments that make it difficult to remove a mask without assistance should not wear them.
But, face masks are not enough by themselves and should be combined with hand-washing and physical distancing.
What type of mask should people wear?
The CDC recommends the average individual wear a cloth-based face covering rather than a medical-grade mask like a surgical or N95 mask, which should be reserved for health care workers and first responders.
Cloth masks can be made from household items like scarves and Tshirts, according to the CDC.
The CDC has information on how to make a face mask at its website, cdc.gov.
Masks should fully cover the nose and mouth and should fit snugly along the sides so there are no gaps. It should not be difficult to breathe while wearing one. Cloth masks can be washed in the washing machine or with soap or bleach to keep it clean.