Airborne transmission by droplets and aerosols is important for the spread of viruses. Face masks are a well-established preventive measure, but their effectiveness for mitigating SARS-CoV-2 transmission is still under debate. We show that variations in mask efficacy can be explained by different regimes of virus abundance and related to population-average infection probability and reproduction … Continue reading Face #masks effectively limit the probability of #SARS-CoV-2 transmission
Tag: face-masks
Since its outbreak, COVID-19 has impacted world regions differentially. Whereas some regions still record tens of thousands of new infections daily, other regions have contained the virus. What explains these striking regional differences? We advance a cultural psychological perspective on mask usage, a precautionary measure vital for curbing the pandemic. Four large-scale studies provide evidence … Continue reading Collectivism predicts #mask use during #COVID-19
The seasonality of respiratory diseases has been linked, among other factors, to low outdoor absolute humidity and low indoor relative humidity, which increase evaporation of water in the mucosal lining of the respiratory tract. We demonstrate that normal breathing results in an absorption-desorption cycle inside facemasks, in which supersaturated air is absorbed by the mask … Continue reading #Hydrating the respiratory tract: an alternative explanation why masks lower severity of #COVID-19
What is already known about this topic? Wearing masks is recommended to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. What is added by this report? During March 22–October 17, 2020, 10 sites participating in the COVID-19–Associated Hospitalization Surveillance Network in states with statewide mask mandates reported a decline in weekly COVID-19–associated hospitalization growth rates by up to … Continue reading Decline in Covid-19 Hospitalisation Growth Associated With Statewide Mask Mandates
