Result for
Topic: Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions
August 25, 2020
Mask Wearing and Control of SARS-CoV-2 Transmission in the United States
[pre-print, not peer-reviewed] Using weekly longitudinal survey results on face mask wearing, US states with higher levels of face mask wearing were more likely to have a SARS-CoV-2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…
Performance of Fabrics for Home-Made Masks against the Spread of COVID-19 through Droplets: A Quantitative Mechanistic Study
Ayden et al. compared the performance of 11 common household fabrics at blocking large, high-velocity droplets using a commercial medical mask as a benchmark and found that while most fabrics have substantial blocking efficiency, two layers of highly permeable fabric can achieve >94% efficiency compared to medical mask by reducing the velocity of transmitted droplets…
August 21, 2020
COVID-19 Effectiveness of Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions in the United States before Phased Removal of Social Distancing Protections Varies by Region
• [pre-print, not peer-reviewed] Pan et al. quantified the effectiveness of non-pharmaceutical interventions on the spread of COVID-19 in the United States and found that only the most stringent level of restrictions (e.g, sheltering in place / stay-at-home, public mask requirements, or travel restrictions) significantly decreased COVID-19 cases and deaths in the US. These policies…
The Effect of Big-City News on Rural America during the COVID-19 Pandemic
• Individual-level surveys showed that rural residents are more likely to engage in social distancing behavior than otherwise similar rural residents if their local news is produced in a city that is more affected by COVID-19. However, the effect is less than half the size of the difference in behavior that is attributable to political…
Social and Behavioral Consequences of Mask Policies during the COVID-19 Pandemic
• A survey of 6,973 German adults suggests that the implementation of mandatory masking policies in shops and aboard public transit increased compliance despite only moderate acceptance of those policies. Individuals who reported wearing masks were also more likely to report washing their hands regularly, avoiding handshakes, and keeping physical distances. • Mandatory mask policies…
August 14, 2020
App-Based Tracking of Self-Reported COVID-19 Symptoms
Zens et al. report findings from the COVID-19 Symptom Tracker study, an app-based daily self-reporting study. Between April 8 and May 15, 22,327 individuals living in Germany installed the app, of which 11,829 (59%) completed the symptom questionnaire at least once. Of the 291 participants who received a SARS-CoV-2 PCR test, 22% were positive. Untested participants reported a mean of…
August 13, 2020
Associations Between Chronic Health Conditions and COVID-19 Preventive Behaviors Among a Nationally Representative Sample of U.S. Adults: An Analysis of the COVID Impact Survey
Camacho-Rivera et al. examined the associations between COVID-19 related preventive behaviors and chronic conditions using data from 2,190 US adult participants in the COVID-19 Household Impact Survey. They found that the prevalence of key COVID-19-related preventive measures was high in general (washing or sanitizing hands: 92%; maintaining 6-ft social distancing in public: 85%; avoiding public or crowded places: 80%;…
Effects of Universal Masking on Massachusetts Healthcare Workers’ COVID-19 Incidence
[Preprint, not peer-reviewed] A time series analysis showed a temporal relationship between the implementation of universal masking in healthcare facilities in Massachusetts and flatting of the incidence in healthcare settings, while incidence continued to increase in the general population. The first case of COVID-19 in the Massachusetts healthcare system was reported on March 17 and universal masking in the healthcare system was implemented on March 26. The peak COVID-19 incidence in the state was on April 20,…
Social Distancing to Slow the US COVID-19 Epidemic: Longitudinal Pretest-Posttest Comparison Group Study
Siedner et al. reported the mean daily COVID-19 incidence rate decreased beginning 4 days after implementation of statewide social distancing measures in the US by 1% per day. The COVID-19-attributed mortality rate decreased beginning 7 days after implementation by 2% per day. The authors emphasize caution in interpreting these results due to potential bias resulting from the aggregate…
August 10, 2020
Is There an Adequate Alternative for Commercially Manufactured Face Masks? A Comparison of Various Materials and Forms
Teesing et al. compared homemade masks made from various readily available materials to N95, FFP2, and KN95 masks. The homemade versions were tested for their ability to filter at least 35% of 0.3 micron particles, to maintain their hydrophobic properties, to seal on the face, breathability, and washability. Leather, a folded coffee filter between quilt fabric, a folded household paper…
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