Loading...
Mask wearing has become politically polarizing: Some people regard it as a silly constraint on their freedom. Studies show that mask use reduces transmission of respiratory viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, by about 40%. In the U.S., only about 50% of people are wearing masks in public in November 2020. In countries with much higher rates of mask use — such as South Korea and New Zealand — sustained reductions in cases of COVID-19 have been achieved, and their economies are rebounding.
The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) in Seattle has collected data from all states since the onset of the pandemic. Their models estimate that universal mask use (defined as 95% mask use in public) could save 130,000 lives between September 22, …