June 7, 2021

Slight Reduction in SARS-CoV-2 Exposure Viral Load Due to Masking Results in a Significant Reduction in Transmission with Widespread Implementation

Category: Article Summary

Topic: Modeling and Prediction

Keywords (Tags): masks, non-pharm interventions, WA, washington

• A mathematical model fit to data from King County, Washington found that in a scenario where masks only lowered viral exposure by about 50%, they were still effective at controlling SARS-CoV-2 transmission, and moderately efficacious masks would reduce exposure viral load ten-fold among people who get infected despite masking in the era before vaccines were available, potentially limiting infection severity. Additional benefits were predicted with an increase in masking compliance from 75% of people masking 75% of the time to 90% of people masking 90% of the time. The model also found that in the absence of additional interventions, mask wearing decreased Re from 1.3–1.5 to ~ 1.0 between June and September 2020.

Goyal et al. (Dec 4, 2021). Slight Reduction in SARS-CoV-2 Exposure Viral Load Due to Masking Results in a Significant Reduction in Transmission with Widespread Implementation. Scientific Reports. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-91338-5