Global study confirms Face masks reduce COVID-19 transmission by 85%

The first of its kind WHO funded study affirms wearing a face mask & maintaining physical distance is effective at reducing the spread

Ever since the pandemic started the health authorities around the world have sent mixed signals to the people about wearing masks. While physical distancing of 2m or 6ft has been vehemently enforced from day one, ambiguity around wearing masks in public remained. This ambiguity had made the discussion around wearing masks a controversial one. The good news is that we can now put all this behind.

A new global study published in The Lancet medical journal reviewing 172 observational studies from 16 different countries has affirmed that that wearing a face mask and maintaining physical distance sharply reduces the risk of transmitting the COVID-19 virus.

Despite the U.S Center for Disease Control (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO) being at odds recently on whether to wear masks or not, the first of its kind WHO funded global study should put these differences to rest. Originally, CDC promoted the use of face masks for everyone whereas WHO only recommended it for healthy people who are coming in contact with COVID-19 patients.