A: “Asking eight health authorities will elicit eight different answers.”
There’s been much buzz in recent days about whether or not the general public should be wearing masks. These two articles provide a nice review of the evidence. (The quote above is from the Quartz article)
Key take-aways:
(1) Where the evidence is absolutely clear: HEALTH CARE WORKERS MUST RECEIVE PRIORITY FOR MASKS. Evidence that masks are protective for this group is incontrovertible.
(2) The evidence is also clear that sick individuals SHOULD wear masks to contain droplets, protecting others.
(3) Evidence regarding the (healthy) general public is mixed. Many computer simulation studies suggest effectiveness, but studies in the “real-world” paint an unclear picture.
(4) Best practice: Social isolation and rigorous handwashing remain absolutely necessary and effective — with or without mask wearing.
