What’s the Evidence on Face Masks? What You Heard Was Probably Wrong

Although most of the studies in the Cochrane Review were on medical workers in a hospital setting, one study followed community transmission of SARS in Beijing. It found that consistently wearing a mask in public was associated with a 70% reduction in risk of catching SARS. Additionally, the authors of the paper noted that most people in the community wore simple surgical masks, not N95 respirators.

What’s the Evidence on Face Masks? What You Heard Was Probably Wrong

Yep, early advice was wrong – get masks and wear them. Can’t find them in stock? Sites are popping up with instructions on how to DIY:

• https://maskforce.org
• https://www.joann.com/make-to-give-response/
• https://smartairfilters.com/en/blog/best-materials-make-diy-face-mask-virus/