Mask-Wearing Benefits Both The Wearer And Others, New CDC Study Finds, Fairfax City

Press release from the City of Fairfax:

11/17/2020

Scientific studies have shown the value of wearing masks to protect others — but a new scientific brief published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cites growing evidence that cloth masks may also reduce the possible infection of the wearer:

Masks are primarily intended to reduce the emission of virus-laden droplets (“source control”), which is especially relevant for asymptomatic or presymptomatic infected wearers who feel well and may be unaware of their infectiousness to others, and who are estimated to account for more than 50% of transmissions.1,2 Masks also help reduce inhalation of these droplets by the wearer (“filtration for personal protection”). The community benefit of masking for SARS-CoV-2 control is due to the combination of these effects; individual prevention benefit increases with increasing numbers of people using masks consistently and correctly.

The brief's section titled Filtration for Personal Protection identifies the best styles and fabrics for effective face coverings to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The public should wear face coverings/masks that cover their mouth and nose, and to avoid masks that release of particles into the surrounding air (such as valve masks).

Read the scientific brief here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/more/masking-science-sars-cov2.html

This press release was produced by the City of Fairfax. The views expressed here are the author’s own.