May 27, 2020

Do Face Masks Create a False Sense of Security A COVID-19 Dilemma

Category: Article Summary

Topic: Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions

• [pre-print, not peer reviewed] Yan et al. use SafeGraph smart device location data and show that the representative American in states that have facemask mandates spends 20-30 minutes less time at home and makes an increased number of visits to commercial locations following the mandate. The authors suggest that this is due to substitution behavior and could lead to a resurgence of cases. 

Yan et al. (May 27, 2020). Do Face Masks Create a False Sense of Security A COVID-19 Dilemma. Pre-print downloaded May 27 from https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.05.23.20111302