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The Great Mask Debate: A Debate That Shouldn t Be a Debate at All #MMPMID33428832
Raymond JR
WMJ 2020[Dec]; 119 (4): 229-239 PMID33428832show ga
BACKGROUND: Despite a rapidly growing and evolving literature, there continues to be a vigorous public debate about whether the community use of face coverings can mitigate the spread of COVID-19 ten months into the pandemic. OBJECTIVES: This article describes a semi-structured literature review of the use of face coverings to prevent the spread of coronaviruses and similar respiratory pathogens, with a focus on SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19). METHODS: : The author conducted a semi-structured literature review using search terms "COVID19" or "SARS-CoV-2" crossed with "mask/s" or "face covering/s." Articles were evaluated through October 30, 2020 for inclusion, as were key references cited within the primary references and other references identified through traditional and social media outlets. RESULTS: There is strong evidence to support the community use of face coverings to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 from various laboratory, epidemiological, natural history, clinical, and economic studies, although there was only 1 high-quality published randomized controlled trial of this topic at the time of review. CONCLUSIONS: The evidence in favor of community face coverings to slow the spread of COVID-19 is strong. Although most of the benefit of wearing a face covering is conferred to the community and to bystanders, a face covering also can protect the wearer to some extent, both by reducing the risk of COVID-19 infection, and perhaps by reducing the severity of illness for those who contract a COVID-19 infection.
WMJ 2020 ; 119 (4): 229-239
