Alliance for Pandemic Preparedness

August 25, 2020

Mask Wearing and Control of SARS-CoV-2 Transmission in the United States

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  • [pre-print, not peer-reviewed] Using weekly longitudinal survey results on face mask wearing, US states with higher levels of face mask wearing were more likely to have a SARS-CoV-2 effective reproductive number (Rt) less than 1, which would lead to control of community transmission. A 10% increase in mask wearing was associated with a higher likelihood of a state having an Rt < 1 (OR=3.5, 95%CI 2.0, 6.4). Rader et al. combined responses on likelihood to wear a face mask from serial cross-sectional surveys administered in June and July (n=378,207) with measures of the instantaneous SARS-CoV-2 reproduction rate (Rt), social distancing proxies, respondent demographics and other potential confounders. Investigators also found an upward trend in mask usage over time that varied by geography and demographics, with communities with the highest mask wearing and social distancing having the highest predicted probability of Rt < 1.

Rader et al. (Aug 25, 2020). Mask Wearing and Control of SARS-CoV-2 Transmission in the United States. Pre-print downloaded August 25 from https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.08.23.20078964