Search Results for "face masks"

Listicle of “facts” about COVID-19 contains numerous inaccurate and misleading claims

In 2020, more deaths have occurred than expected relative to previous years (i.e., excess deaths), even more than the number of excess deaths that occurred during the particularly severe flu season of 2017-2018. Countries like Sweden and Japan that did not implement lockdowns have managed to control the outbreak of COVID-19, but this may be due to unique cultural factors such as the voluntary practice of physical distancing and mask-wearing. Published studies have shown that these measures are effective at significantly reducing virus transmission.

Wearing masks aims at slowing SARS-CoV-2 circulation, not protecting against a certain death

In order to limit and eventually stop an ongoing epidemic, it is necessary to reduce virus transmission. Wearing face masks has been shown to be effective at slowing the circulation of respiratory viruses such as SARS-CoV-2. Some individuals who do not wear masks may still remain healthy because exposure to SARS-CoV-2 does not automatically lead to infection or death. In addition, the use of masks by others within the community can also limit virus transmission, thereby protecting those who do not wear masks, similar to the herd immunity effect

Still no evidence that hydroxychloroquine can cure or prevent COVID-19

Current scientific evidence does not support the use of hydroxychloroquine to prevent or cure COVID-19. In contrast to some small early studies showing an increased recovery rate among patients treated with hydroxychloroquine, more recent large and well-designed clinical trials showed no such improvement when the drug was used alone or in combination with zinc or azithromycin. In the absence of a proven cure for COVID-19, physical distancing, good hand hygiene, and the use of masks are effective measures for reducing the transmission of the disease.

Primary COVID-19 transmission is by close contact with infected people; nasopharyngeal swab-based testing provides the highest diagnostic accuracy

Respiratory droplets are considered the main mode of COVID-19 transmission, which can be prevented by protective measures, including physical distancing, good ventilation, and the use of face masks. In parallel, diagnostic testing to identify and isolate infected individuals and their close contacts is a key strategy to slow the spreading of the disease. While alternative methods are under study, nasopharyngeal swab-based RT-PCR testing remains the most accurate and the gold standard method for COVID-19 diagnosis.

Videos use gas sensors to misleadingly claim that wearing a face mask causes oxygen deficiency

Cloth face coverings and face masks are generally safe. Except in the case of unusual environments such as confined or closed spaces, using face coverings or face masks is very unlikely to place someone at risk of oxygen deficiency. The gas sensors used in these videos are not intended for measuring rapid changes in oxygen and carbon dioxide levels that occur with breathing, hence the measurements shown in the videos do not accurately reflect oxygen and carbon dioxide levels of inhaled air. The pores in cloth coverings and face masks are large enough to permit gas molecules like oxygen and carbon dioxide to flow freely.

OSHA recommends using cloth face coverings at the workplace, contrary to claim by Peggy Hall

OSHA encourages workers to use face masks or cloth face coverings at work, in accordance with recommendations by the U.S. CDC for reducing community transmission of COVID-19. At the moment, the use of face masks or coverings are not mandated by OSHA, but left at the employer’s discretion. Cloth face coverings are generally safe to use and do not lead to oxygen deficiency, since gas molecules like oxygen and carbon dioxide are much smaller than the pores in fabric, and pass through the covering easily. By blocking much larger respiratory droplets, which transmit the virus, face masks and coverings help to protect others in the community and limit COVID-19 spread.

Facebook posts spread unsupported anonymous claim that face mask use caused a lung infection in a healthy teenager

A highly viral anonymous message circulating on Facebook makes numerous claims about face mask safety that have previously been shown to be unsupported by scientific evidence. Face mask filters are large enough to allow gas molecules such as carbon dioxide and oxygen to pass through freely, hence wearing a face mask is extremely unlikely to lead to hypercapnia. There is no scientific basis for the claim that breathing in one’s exhaled bacteria leads to infection.

Facebook posts misinterpret a study of 455 contacts of an asymptomatic COVID-19 carrier to claim that asymptomatic spread does not occur

Many Facebook posts have misinterpreted a study which examined the incidence of COVID-19 infections among 455 people who had been exposed to an asymptomatic carrier, claiming that it showed masks are not needed or that asymptomatic transmission does not occur. However, it is clear from reading the full study that all 455 contacts wore at least a face mask, except while eating or drinking, during exposure. In fact, the study’s authors concluded that “Effective prevention and control measures are helpful to prevent COVID-19 spread of asymptomatic carriers.” Scientific evidence also suggests that asymptomatic spread can and does occur.