Face masks ‘most effective’ way to prevent COVID-19 spread: study
Australian advice on masks 'isn't rational', leading infection control expert Professor Mary-Louise McLaws says
Mandatory wearing of face masks in COVID-19 epicentres likely prevented tens of thousands of cases, a US study suggests.
The findings also suggest that the widespread use of face masks in public is more effective than other public health measures, the researchers say.
However, their further claim that airborne transmission is the “dominant” route of SARS-CoV-2 transmission has been questioned by leading Australian epidemiologists.
The Texas A&M University-led authors analysed trends in infection rates in New York City, Italy, and the Chinese city of Wuhan where the pandemic began, to assess the impact of mitigation measures, including social distancing and quarantine.
