Adopting almost universal masks along with public health measures could eliminate the spread of disease

Research published this month in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that public acceptance of non-medical masks, combined with complementary public health measures, could reduce transmission to zero.

This research makes clear that, even as vaccines are developed and new modifications, such as B.1.7.7, are discovered, the power to protect ourselves remains in our hands, as individuals. Wearing a mask is one of the simplest, most effective and cheapest ways to do so – and has been proven by a history of epidemiology over the past century, going back to a pandemic- spread 1918-19 and even earlier. “

Anne Rimoin, Co-author, UCLA School of Fielding Epidemiology Professor

R0 is a mathematical term, pronounced “R naught,” which indicates the infectious nature of an infectious disease. It’s also called the reproduction number. As newcomers become infected, it reproduces itself. Reducing reproduction to zero could add $ 1 trillion to U.S. GDP, the authors said.

“Reducing the spread of disease requires two things: limiting individuals’ connections through physical distance and other measures and reducing the likelihood of transmission of all communicators, ”said co-author Christina Ramirez , professor of biostatistics at the Fielding School. “Frequency of evidence shows that mask wear reduces transmission of all communications by reducing the spread of infectious respiratory fragments in both laboratory and clinical contexts . “

The research, published in the January edition of the revised journal of the National Academics as “Evidence Review of Face Masks Against COVID-19,” was conducted by an international team of 19 experts from UCLA and more than a dozen other university and research centers. These include Oxford University, Cape Town University, Peking University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and the University of San Francisco.

“When used in conjunction with extensive testing, contact detection, quarantining anyone who may be infected, hand washing, and physical distance, face masks are valuable tools to reduce community outbreaks,” Rimoin said . ”All of these measures, through their impact on Ro, have the potential to reduce the number of diseases. As governments leave locks, it will be critical that referrals are kept low enough to maintain health care capacity so that vaccines can be developed and widely available. “

To reach their conclusions, the team – including UCLA FSPH pupil Greg Watson – examined a wide range of new and existing studies and research, including ongoing work. back to a 1910 plague revolution in northeastern China. Even then, the researchers write, scientists fighting the plague have identified the “clothing mask” as the primary means of personal protection. ‘“In total, the team examined a wide range of activities, focusing on 11 areas:

• Direct epidemiological evidence
• Reviews of mask use for other respiratory illnesses
• Ecological studies
• Modeling
• Human studies: infectious particles
• Human studies: aerosol and droplet filtration
• Risk compensation behavior
• Regulates the stigma associated with wearing a mask
• Creating a new symbolism around wearing a mask
• Supply chain management of n95 respirators and foreign surfaces
• Wearing a mandatory mask

The results of this work led to a number of conclusions, including the following:

• face masks were 79% effective in preventing spread, if used by household members before symptoms
• the use of masks was strongly protective, with a 70% risk reduction for those who always wore a mask when going out
• transmission was 7.5 times higher in countries without a masonry command
• the difference between U.S. states with mask orders and those without found that the daily growth rate was 2.0 percentage points lower in states with mask orders, suggesting that the orders have prevented 230,000 to 450,000 cases of COVID-19 by May 22, 2020
• face masks are having a significant reduction in disease and mortality, (with) a potential impact on US $ 1 trillion GDP if a national mask mandate is implemented
• the margin gain for each mask worn is in the range from US $ 3,000 to US $ 6,000.

There is also ample evidence from the current pandemic, said study co-author Jeremy Howard, a distinguished research scientist at the University of San Francisco.

“By the end of June 2020, nearly 90% of the world’s population lived in regions that had almost universal mask use, or had laws that required mask use in some areas. public places, and the use of a community mask has been recommended by almost every major public health body, “Howard said. “This is a radical change from the early days of the pandemic, when masks were rarely recommended or used.”