Efficacy of Generalized Face Masking Mandates

This commentary discusses if targeted uses of face masks may provide better results than generalized face masks mandates to limit the spread of Covid-19. The study is based on a literature review, as well as the analysis of cases and fatalities of different countries adopting different mask mandates...

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Autor principal:	Alberto Boretti
Formato:	article
Lenguaje:	EN
Publicado:	SAGE Publishing 2021
Materias:	Medicine (General) R5-920 Public aspects of medicine RA1-1270
Acceso en línea:	https://doaj.org/article/1ab6580bee244f62bc8d110af48af08d
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spelling	oai:doaj.org-article:1ab6580bee244f62bc8d110af48af08d2021-11-10T22:33:22ZEfficacy of Generalized Face Masking Mandates2333-392810.1177/23333928211058023https://doaj.org/article/1ab6580bee244f62bc8d110af48af08d2021-11-01T00:00:00Zhttps://doi.org/10.1177/23333928211058023https://doaj.org/toc/2333-3928This commentary discusses if targeted uses of face masks may provide better results than generalized face masks mandates to limit the spread of Covid-19. The study is based on a literature review, as well as the analysis of cases and fatalities of different countries adopting different mask mandates. Before the Covid-19 emergency, the literature was consistently against generalized masking for cold and flu viruses. The latest literature for Covid-19 infection is opposite mostly supportive for generalized masking, even if contrarian works exist. The Covid-19 recommendations are not based on randomized controlled trials of healthy individuals wearing or not masks, differentiating in between closed or open spaces. Countries that did not mandate face masks have not performed worse for the number of cases and fatalities than countries that adopted generalized face masking policies during the Covid-19 emergency. Face masks help against Covid-19 infection but also have downfalls. Their benefits are overestimated, while their risks are underestimated. Masks can block the larger droplets exhaled by an infected wearer, protecting the healthy from viral exposure, but their ability to filter out viruses is variable and generally poor especially in reused cloth masks worn by the public. New surgical masks should be used in crowded spaces especially indoors, preferring distancing without masks outdoor. There are serious unintended consequences from wearing face masks improperly and for too long that must be accounted for. There could be more advantages from targeted rather than generalized uses of only surgical face masks.Alberto BorettiSAGE PublishingarticleMedicine (General)R5-920Public aspects of medicineRA1-1270ENHealth Services Research & Managerial Epidemiology, Vol 8 (2021)
institution	DOAJ
collection	DOAJ
language	EN
topic	Medicine (General) R5-920 Public aspects of medicine RA1-1270
spellingShingle	Medicine (General) R5-920 Public aspects of medicine RA1-1270 Alberto Boretti Efficacy of Generalized Face Masking Mandates
description	This commentary discusses if targeted uses of face masks may provide better results than generalized face masks mandates to limit the spread of Covid-19. The study is based on a literature review, as well as the analysis of cases and fatalities of different countries adopting different mask mandates. Before the Covid-19 emergency, the literature was consistently against generalized masking for cold and flu viruses. The latest literature for Covid-19 infection is opposite mostly supportive for generalized masking, even if contrarian works exist. The Covid-19 recommendations are not based on randomized controlled trials of healthy individuals wearing or not masks, differentiating in between closed or open spaces. Countries that did not mandate face masks have not performed worse for the number of cases and fatalities than countries that adopted generalized face masking policies during the Covid-19 emergency. Face masks help against Covid-19 infection but also have downfalls. Their benefits are overestimated, while their risks are underestimated. Masks can block the larger droplets exhaled by an infected wearer, protecting the healthy from viral exposure, but their ability to filter out viruses is variable and generally poor especially in reused cloth masks worn by the public. New surgical masks should be used in crowded spaces especially indoors, preferring distancing without masks outdoor. There are serious unintended consequences from wearing face masks improperly and for too long that must be accounted for. There could be more advantages from targeted rather than generalized uses of only surgical face masks.
format	article
author	Alberto Boretti
author_facet	Alberto Boretti
author_sort	Alberto Boretti
title	Efficacy of Generalized Face Masking Mandates
title_short	Efficacy of Generalized Face Masking Mandates
title_full	Efficacy of Generalized Face Masking Mandates
title_fullStr	Efficacy of Generalized Face Masking Mandates
title_full_unstemmed	Efficacy of Generalized Face Masking Mandates
title_sort	efficacy of generalized face masking mandates
publisher	SAGE Publishing
publishDate	2021
url	https://doaj.org/article/1ab6580bee244f62bc8d110af48af08d
work_keys_str_mv	AT albertoboretti efficacyofgeneralizedfacemaskingmandates
_version_	1718439651320004608

Efficacy of Generalized Face Masking Mandates

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