Masks and social distancing work, new analysis finds
4 years, 7 months ago

Masks and social distancing work, new analysis finds

Associated Press  

Masks and social distancing can help control the coronavirus but hand washing and other measures are still needed, a new analysis finds. Researchers concluded single-layer cloth masks are less effective than surgical masks, while tight-fitting N95 masks provide the best protection. With the coronavirus still new, health officials have relied on studies involving its cousins, severe acute respiratory syndrome and Middle East respiratory syndrome. The World Health Organization, which funded the new analysis, has said healthy people need to wear a mask only if they are caring for a person with COVID-19.

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I'm an A&E doctor and this is why it's time to start wearing masks again... as experts issue dire warnings over a virulent new Covid variant
1 year ago

I'm an A&E doctor and this is why it's time to start wearing masks again... as experts issue dire warnings over a virulent new Covid variant

Daily Mail  

It’s that time again. Dr Saleyha Ahsan says she always wears a mask in crowded places Now one of the UK’s leading experts, Sir Andrew Pollard, who is a professor of infection and immunity at the University of Oxford, is predicting ‘a rise in infections in the population over the course of the next week’, driven by a highly infectious …

Start Wearing Masks, Says Health Minister
1 year ago

Start Wearing Masks, Says Health Minister

Deccan Chronicle  

Hyderabad: Health minister Damodar Rajanarasimha on Wednesday urged the public to start wearing masks in public places and follow social distance protocols, while chairing a review on Covid-19 control in the state in the wake of the emergence of the JN.1 variant. The minister said that people experiencing Covid-like symptoms must visit a doctor, get advice and get themselves tested …

Expert who has never caught Covid tells Aussies to wear face masks every time they leave the house - amid fresh mandate in one state
1 year, 1 month ago

Expert who has never caught Covid tells Aussies to wear face masks every time they leave the house - amid fresh mandate in one state

Daily Mail  

A leading epidemiologist who has never caught Covid-19 has advised Australians to wear face masks every time they leave the house to avoid catching the virus. Dr Zoe Hyde,who has never caught Covid-19 has advised Australians to wear face masks every time they leave the house if they want to stay Covid-free A recent surge in Covid-19 cases - Australia's …

Why no one is talking about new mask rules even as COVID-19 rises in L.A.
1 year, 4 months ago

Why no one is talking about new mask rules even as COVID-19 rises in L.A.

LA Times  

Despite rising coronavirus outbreaks across Los Angeles County, officials said they have no plans for new public mask mandates — a sign of how COVID-19 policies have changed in an era of plentiful vaccines, lower death rates and back-to-normal culture. “We have such good tools right now that we really shouldn’t get there.” California COVID outbreaks hit workplaces, schools across …

Dr Fauci refutes study claiming that masks don’t work as Covid concerns rise
1 year, 4 months ago

Dr Fauci refutes study claiming that masks don’t work as Covid concerns rise

The Independent  

Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “I am concerned that people will not abide by recommendations—and we’re not talking about mandates …

Return of masks? COVID-19 cases surge; new variant ‘Pirola’ causes concern
1 year, 4 months ago

Return of masks? COVID-19 cases surge; new variant ‘Pirola’ causes concern

Live Mint  

COVID-19 cases in the United States have surged to levels reminiscent of the peak experienced last winter, causing concerns over the emergence of a new highly mutated variant known as "Pirola" BA.2.86 and the impending respiratory virus season. Dr. Georges Benjamin, the Executive Director of the American Public Health Association, highlights that masking remains a potent tool for mitigating COVID-19 …

COVID-19: should we start wearing masks again?
1 year, 4 months ago

COVID-19: should we start wearing masks again?

The Hindu  

One thing that can be guaranteed about COVID-19 is that evolution will provide us with a more or less constant stream of new coronavirus variants, some of which will be more successful at infecting people. It’s this worry that there may be a new wave of infections that has got some people talking about the need to reintroduce measures that …

Measures such as lockdowns and masks ‘unequivocally reduced Covid infections’
1 year, 4 months ago

Measures such as lockdowns and masks ‘unequivocally reduced Covid infections’

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Measures taken during the Covid-19 pandemic such as social distancing …

Do I still need to wear my mask?
1 year, 8 months ago

Do I still need to wear my mask?

The Hindu  

World-wide mask wearing became a part of our public life three years ago with the COVID-19 pandemic but late last week the World Health Organisation declared that COVID-19 no longer qualifies as a global health emergency. “Washing hands, avoiding crowds, using a mask - all these continue to offer protection against COVID which is still around and also other respiratory …

Burnet Institute defends COVID mask mandate study after scientific journal's Expression of Concern
1 year, 8 months ago

Burnet Institute defends COVID mask mandate study after scientific journal's Expression of Concern

ABC  

The Burnet Institute is defending a COVID-19 mask mandate study published by its researchers, despite a scientific journal marking it with a notice of concern after a review identified multiple "weaknesses" in its findings. Key points: An Expression of Concern has been added to a Burnet Institute study about mask use and Victoria's second COVID-19 wave published in a scientific …

Top disease control body clarifies mask use
1 year, 8 months ago

Top disease control body clarifies mask use

China Daily  

Passengers wear masks on the subway in Beijing on March 30. ZHU ZHENQIANG/FOR CHINA DAILY China's top disease control authorities clarified on Wednesday that people do not need to wear masks in outdoor spaces and workplaces, on campuses and when working out. The National Administration of Disease Prevention and Control released the latest mask use protocol on Wednesday evening, at …

Top disease control body clarifies mask use
1 year, 9 months ago

Top disease control body clarifies mask use

China Daily  

Passengers wear masks on the subway in Beijing on March 30. ZHU ZHENQIANG/FOR CHINA DAILY China's top disease control authorities clarified on Wednesday that people do not need to wear masks in outdoor spaces and workplaces, on campuses and when working out. The National Administration of Disease Prevention and Control released the latest mask use protocol on Wednesday evening, at …

Top disease control body clarifies mask use
1 year, 9 months ago

Top disease control body clarifies mask use

China Daily  

Passengers wear masks on the subway in Beijing on March 30. ZHU ZHENQIANG/FOR CHINA DAILY China's top disease control authorities clarified on Wednesday that people do not need to wear masks in outdoor spaces and workplaces, on campuses and when working out. The National Administration of Disease Prevention and Control released the latest mask use protocol on Wednesday evening, at …

Without other pandemic precautions, hospital mask rules didn’t stop COVID spread, study finds
1 year, 9 months ago

Without other pandemic precautions, hospital mask rules didn’t stop COVID spread, study finds

LA Times  

In a world moving on from the COVID-19 pandemic, hospitals and medical offices have been the last bastions of mandatory masking. But new research finds that in communities where pandemic precautions have been largely abandoned, mask mandates in healthcare settings do little to prevent coronavirus infections among patients. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continue to recommend indoor …

Wearing masks did ’little to nothing’ to help curb Covid spread, study reveals
1 year, 11 months ago

Wearing masks did ’little to nothing’ to help curb Covid spread, study reveals

Live Mint  

Face masks have done ‘little to nothing’ to curb the Covid-19 transmission, a new scientific review titled “Physical interventions to interrupt or reduce the spread of respiratory viruses” suggested. It conducted research on the findings of 78 randomized controlled trials to find out whether the physical interventions, including face masks and hand wash, limited the spread of respiratory diseases. “Wearing …

Masks made little or no difference in Covid-19 spread, new study suggests
1 year, 11 months ago

Masks made little or no difference in Covid-19 spread, new study suggests

India TV News  

A new review led by 12 researchers from universities around the world has examined whether wearing face masks helped prevent the spread of Covid-19. According to the study published by the Cochrane Library, "Wearing masks in the community probably makes little or no difference" in controlling the spread of Covid-19. However, it's important to note that the review included studies …

Health officials are urging masks again amid high COVID, flu levels
2 years, 1 month ago

Health officials are urging masks again amid high COVID, flu levels

LA Times  

With COVID-19, the flu and other respiratory diseases circulating widely in Los Angeles County and elsewhere, many officials are urging residents to use a familiar tool to help thwart transmission: masks. As case rates rise, “your chance of catching COVID during your routine activities — grocery shopping, eating out, running errands, going to work — will increase,” according to Los …

Stop touching your face! It could help you stay healthy this holiday
2 years, 1 month ago

Stop touching your face! It could help you stay healthy this holiday

LA Times  

Whitney Fakolade prepares a flu shot for a client at a clinic held by L.A. Care Health Plan, Blue Shield California Promise Health Plan and L.A. County-USC Medical Center at Exposition Park in 2020. That’s a step doctors are urging people to take as California faces a “tripledemic” threat — with flu, the coronavirus and respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, …

With COVID-19 rules disappearing, if you're the only one in a mask, will it still keep you safe from infection?
2 years, 3 months ago

With COVID-19 rules disappearing, if you're the only one in a mask, will it still keep you safe from infection?

ABC  

COVID-19 restrictions are winding down and as of Friday anyone who tests positive will no longer be required to isolate. "We likely saw that effect because even people who didn't have symptoms and so didn't know they had COVID were still wearing masks and so reducing their risk of transmitting infection to others," he says. "Any mask that doesn't fit …

Which mask to wear indoors to protect against Covid-19? Health official suggests
2 years, 6 months ago

Which mask to wear indoors to protect against Covid-19? Health official suggests

Live Mint  

Health experts and researchers continue to recommend wearing the face mask for personal protection against the Covid-19 virus even as countries battle the decision to issue mask mandates as Covid-19 cases continue to fluctuate. Global health leader and epidemiologist Dr Tom Frieden has said that those who are worried about getting Covid-19 infection while surrounded by others who do not …

Covid-19 task force recommends restoration of mask mandate
2 years, 7 months ago

Covid-19 task force recommends restoration of mask mandate

Hindustan Times  

Mumbai: Amid a surge in Covid-19 cases, the state Covid-19 task force has recommended that the state government make masks mandatory mask in crowded and poorly ventilated public places. Following Covid-19 appropriate behaviour will also help in combating other airborne diseases like tuberculosis,” said Dr Kedar Toraskar, critical care specialist and member of the state Covid-19 task force. In Wockhardt …

A third of US should be considering masks, officials say
2 years, 7 months ago

A third of US should be considering masks, officials say

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — COVID-19 cases are increasing in the United States — and could get even worse over the coming months, federal health officials warned Wednesday in urging areas hardest hit to consider reissuing calls for indoor masking. “Prior increases of infections, in different waves of infection, have demonstrated that this travels across the country,” said Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the CDC …

A third of U.S. should be considering masks, officials say
2 years, 7 months ago

A third of U.S. should be considering masks, officials say

LA Times  

Coronavirus infections are on the rise in the United States and could get even worse over the coming months, federal health officials warned Wednesday as they urged the hardest-hit areas to consider reissuing calls for indoor masking. “Prior increases of infections, in different waves of infection, have demonstrated that this travels across the country,” Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the CDC director, …

Facemasks can reduce Covid severity, pressure on health systems, study confirms
2 years, 8 months ago

Facemasks can reduce Covid severity, pressure on health systems, study confirms

India Today  

Effective mask use can drastically slow the spread of Covid-19, reduce the magnitude of the pandemic peak by flattening the curve, and reduce the prevalence of severe cases, according to a study. "If the variolation effect is strong, then the number of severe cases, and consequently pressure on health-care systems, could be substantially reduced if most people wore masks -- …

More evidence of airborne spread of COVID: study
2 years, 8 months ago

More evidence of airborne spread of COVID: study

The Hindu  

The SARS-CoV-2, which was earlier thought to spread through touching infected surfaces, has been found to be spreading airborne and more evidence is coming up in this regard, with epidemiologists also finding that countries that used masks were affected less severely by the pandemic. Scientists analysed the coronavirus’ genome content from air samples collected from different areas occupied by COVID …

We lack research data on how masks help us keep covid away
2 years, 8 months ago

We lack research data on how masks help us keep covid away

Live Mint  

After a judge overturned a mandate of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention requiring US airline passengers to wear masks aboard aircraft, transport security systems stopped enforcing masking at airports. While science has brought us great advances in pharmaceutical interventions such as vaccines and covid treatments, it’s provided little new information about the value of non-pharmaceutical interventions such …

COVID-19: Too early, say experts as states across India ease mask mandate
2 years, 9 months ago

COVID-19: Too early, say experts as states across India ease mask mandate

Firstpost  

The promotion of voluntary wearing of masks in public places can help reduce inhalation of dust and other respiratory transmitted agents, including TB bacilli, flu virus, other respiratory viruses said virologist T Jacob John New Delhi: Even though some states have decided to stop penalising people for not wearing masks as COVID-19 cases continue to drop, healthcare experts are of …

Coronavirus Today: To mask or not to mask
2 years, 10 months ago

Coronavirus Today: To mask or not to mask

LA Times  

I’m Karen Kaplan, and it’s Tuesday, March 1. Either way, Dr. Mark Ghaly, California’s health and human services secretary, wants you to know that the decision was “driven by the data and the science.” That includes coronavirus case numbers, which are now averaging about 33,000 cases per day. The new state rules come with an important caveat: Local health officials …

Washington officials to assess new mask guidance from CDC
2 years, 10 months ago

Washington officials to assess new mask guidance from CDC

Associated Press  

OLYMPIA, Wash. — Washington’s March 21 date to lift the statewide mask mandate remains in place for now as state officials review new guidance Friday from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that says people in most places can safely take a break from wearing facial coverings. Jay Inslee, said in an email Friday that the office has not …

CDC to significantly ease pandemic mask guidelines Friday
2 years, 10 months ago

CDC to significantly ease pandemic mask guidelines Friday

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — The Biden administration will significantly loosen federal mask-wearing guidelines to protect against COVID-19 transmission on Friday, according to two people familiar with the matter, meaning most Americans will no longer be advised to wear masks in indoor public settings. The change comes as nearly all U.S. states that had put in place indoor mask-wearing mandates for the winter …

New US COVID guidelines allow most Americans to go mask-free
2 years, 10 months ago

New US COVID guidelines allow most Americans to go mask-free

Al Jazeera  

New US coronavirus masking policy is broken down into three risk categories based on hospital capacity and cases. The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has dramatically eased its COVID-19 guidelines for when people should wear masks indoors, a move that means 72 percent of the US population will reside in communities where indoor face coverings are no …

Coronavirus FAQ: I'm a one-way masker. With mask mandates going away, is that helpful?
2 years, 10 months ago

Coronavirus FAQ: I'm a one-way masker. With mask mandates going away, is that helpful?

NPR  

Coronavirus FAQ: I'm a one-way masker. Sponsor Message So a number of people are "one-way maskers" — the terms used for those who mask up even if others around them do not. "One-way masking isn't doing that," says Kristen Coleman, an assistant research professor at the University of Maryland School of Public Health. "It just means that it doesn't offer …

CDC says Americans can now go unmasked in many parts of the country
2 years, 10 months ago

CDC says Americans can now go unmasked in many parts of the country

NPR  

CDC says Americans can now go unmasked in many parts of the country The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Friday it is relaxing its mask guidance for communities where hospitals aren't under high strain. Enlarge this image toggle caption Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc. via Getty Images Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc. via Getty Images "As the virus continues to …

Why One-Way Masking Isn’t a Very Good Public Health Solution
2 years, 11 months ago

Why One-Way Masking Isn’t a Very Good Public Health Solution

Slate  

The masking debate has returned, as leadership in some states like New York and California move to remove their statewide mask mandates, and others like New Jersey decide it’s time for mask mandates to end in schools. “One-way masking” basically means you can wear a mask even if everyone else isn’t. The thinking goes that good, high-quality masks like KN95s …

5 Things COVID Experts Need To See Before They'll Go Maskless At The Office
2 years, 11 months ago

5 Things COVID Experts Need To See Before They'll Go Maskless At The Office

Huff Post  

Catherine McQueen via Getty Images COVID experts say they'll consider several factors before going without a mask in the office. This week, the governors of nearly a dozen states, including California, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut and New Jersey, said they would soon lift or loosen indoor mask mandates, citing COVID-19 vaccination rates, “the extremely low risk for young people” and …

How Much Does One-Way Masking Protect You From COVID?
2 years, 11 months ago

How Much Does One-Way Masking Protect You From COVID?

Huff Post  

FotografiaBasica via Getty Images More and more places are dropping their COVID mask mandates. “There is no question that it is more effective for both the individual and for public health for a high fraction of people to wear good masks when they are in shared air spaces indoors,” said Alex Huffman, an aerosol scientist at the University of Denver. …

California will lift mask mandate for vaccinated residents in indoor public places next week
2 years, 11 months ago

California will lift mask mandate for vaccinated residents in indoor public places next week

LA Times  

Masks will still be required for unvaccinated residents indoors and for everyone in select settings such as hospitals and nursing homes or while aboard public transit. With the Omicron coronavirus surge rapidly receding, California will lift its universal mask mandate for indoor public places next week, state officials announced Monday. While this move doesn’t mean face coverings will be a …

We asked healthcare professionals about their face masks of choice for everyday use
2 years, 11 months ago

We asked healthcare professionals about their face masks of choice for everyday use

Salon  

New data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Friday emphasizes the importance of wearing the right mask while in a high-risk setting. "These data from real-world settings reinforce the importance of consistently wearing face masks or respirators to reduce the risk of acquisition of SARS-CoV-2 infection among the general public in indoor community settings," the CDC said …

Should you wear a cloth mask, or an N95 to avoid Omicron? US health experts answer
2 years, 11 months ago

Should you wear a cloth mask, or an N95 to avoid Omicron? US health experts answer

India TV News  

Highlights Cloth and surgical masks do nothing for protection from ambient virus, said a US top expert Evidence of the the N95's superiority to the cloth mask has been well-documented. "Cloth and surgical masks do absolutely nothing for protection from ambient virus," said Chad Roy, a microbiologist at Tulane University School of Medicine, referring to the virus spreading through the …

Covid: How well do face masks protect us against the virus?
2 years, 11 months ago

Covid: How well do face masks protect us against the virus?

The Independent  

Sign up to our free Living Well email for advice on living a happier, healthier and longer life Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. …

Why is it better to wear an N95 than a cloth mask right now?
2 years, 11 months ago

Why is it better to wear an N95 than a cloth mask right now?

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — Why is it better to wear an N95 than a cloth mask right now? It’s especially important now with health care systems under strain, and with people in higher-risk situations such as crowded, indoor settings for extended periods, says Linsey Marr, who studies viruses at Virginia Tech. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently updated …

Omicron Scare: Are N95 Masks Need of the Hour or Are Cloth Masks Still Safe?
2 years, 11 months ago

Omicron Scare: Are N95 Masks Need of the Hour or Are Cloth Masks Still Safe?

News 18  

Health experts suggest stepping up protection against the highly contagious omicron variant with stronger masks such as N95s or KN95s. It’s especially important now with health care systems under strain, and with people in higher-risk situations such as crowded, indoor settings for extended periods, says Linsey Marr, who studies viruses at Virginia Tech. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and …

Covid-19: Is it Time to Stop Wearing Cloth Masks and Switch to Respirators?
2 years, 11 months ago

Covid-19: Is it Time to Stop Wearing Cloth Masks and Switch to Respirators?

News 18  

Respirators have been mandatory in public places in Austria for a year. Respirators, often wrongly called “masks” because of their appearance, are personal protective equipment made to a particular standard and designed to prevent inhalation of hazardous airborne contaminants. While some surgical masks may have better filtration capacity than cloth masks, they were designed primarily to prevent the emission of …

CDC Acknowledges Cloth Masks Are Less Effective Than Others
3 years ago

CDC Acknowledges Cloth Masks Are Less Effective Than Others

Huff Post  

LOADING ERROR LOADING The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention conceded Friday that cloth masks are less effective than surgical or respirator masks as protection against COVID-19. “Loosely woven cloth products provide the least protection, layered finely woven products offer more protection, well-fitting disposable surgical masks and KN95s offer even more protection, and well-fitting NIOSH-approved respirators offer the highest level …

CDC encourages more Americans to consider N95 masks
3 years ago

CDC encourages more Americans to consider N95 masks

LA Times  

Registered nurse Scott McGieson wears an N95 mask as he walks out of a patient’s room in the acute care unit of Harborview Medical Center in Seattle on Friday. U.S. health officials on Friday encouraged more Americans to wear the kind of N95 or KN95 masks used by healthcare workers to slow the spread of the coronavirus. In updated guidance …

Coronavirus Becomes 90% Less Infectious Within 20 Minutes of Being Airborne, Reveals UK Study
3 years ago

Coronavirus Becomes 90% Less Infectious Within 20 Minutes of Being Airborne, Reveals UK Study

News 18  

A groundbreaking new study that attempts to find how the deadly coronavirus survives in exhaled air has revealed that the virus becomes 90 per cent less infectious within 20 minutes of becoming airborne therefore losing most of its ability to infect after the first five minutes. While conducting the study, the researchers developed an apparatus to generate virus-containing particles and …

Wearing A Cloth Mask? You Can Get Covid-19 In 20 Minutes: Study
3 years ago

Wearing A Cloth Mask? You Can Get Covid-19 In 20 Minutes: Study

News 18  

With the Covid-19 cases rising again rapidly all over the world, the debate over cloth masks vs N95 masks have begun again. While many switched to cloth masks considering the comfort factor after the country started recording less than 100 cases post the second Covid-19 wave, a large section of people still opt for surgical masks or N95 as they …

Big push for Californians to switch to N95 or KN95 masks as Omicron surge worsens
3 years ago

Big push for Californians to switch to N95 or KN95 masks as Omicron surge worsens

LA Times  

Visitors to Chinatown wear masks. And for other activities, this may mean postponing your participation until community transmission is much reduced.” Last month, California’s public health director and health officer, Dr. Tomás Aragón, wrote that with the increasing airborne spread of the coronavirus, it’s important to improve the fit of masks and their filtration — making enhancements that go beyond …

CDC recommends shorter coronavirus isolation, quarantine for all
3 years ago

CDC recommends shorter coronavirus isolation, quarantine for all

LA Times  

A middle school principal walks the empty halls of his school as he speaks with one of his teachers to get an update on her COVID-19 symptoms. U.S. health officials on Monday cut isolation restrictions for Americans infected with the coronavirus from 10 to five days, and similarly shortened the time that close contacts of infected people need to quarantine. …

Most cloth masks are just fashion accessories, say experts amid Omicron threat
3 years ago

Most cloth masks are just fashion accessories, say experts amid Omicron threat

India Today  

As the world faces a surge in coronavirus cases with the spread of the Omicron variant, experts have warned against using single-layer cloth face masks as protection from the virus. Double or triple-layer masks made of a mix of materials can be more effective, but most cloth coverings are just fashion accessories,” Trisha Greenhalgh, professor of primary health care services …

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