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Nov 4, 2023 · The CDC says that you should wear the most protective mask that you'll wear regularly, fits well and is comfortable. Respirators such as nonsurgical N95s give the most protection. KN95s and medical masks provide the next highest level of protection.
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People online are touting the results of a Cochrane review to incorrectly claim that it shows masks “don’t work” against the coronavirus. But the primary conclusion of the review is that it’s uncertain from randomized controlled trials whether mask interventions in the community help slow the spread of respiratory illnesses.
Three years into the COVID-19 pandemic, few topics have become as polarizing as masks. Some people claim masks are a panacea; others say masks are worthless or worse. The evidence, however, is more complicated and nuanced — and points somewhere in between, experts told us. Reigniting the debate — and sparking misinformation about masks from both si...
One reason the Cochrane review has garnered so much attention is because Cochrane has a reputation for excellence. The group doesn’t do original research, but performs what are called systematic reviews, which summarize the collective literature on a particular question in a careful and predetermined waythat minimizes bias. This prevents someone fr...
Benjamin Cowling, an epidemiologist at the University of Hong Kong who has studied masks, said he thought the review was very similar to other systematic reviews on the topic. But he found the authors’ conclusion that wearing masks in the community “probably makes little or no difference” to be problematic. He noted that the confidence intervals fo...
One point of confusion for many people is that lab studies show masks, mostly well-fitting and high-filtering N95 respirators, are good at blocking viral particles. This is evidence that masks can in theory be quite effective, both for individuals and for larger populations. Some scientists have pushed for people to use better masks, especiallyN95 ...
“About us.” Cochrane.org. Accessed 15 Mar 2023. Jefferson, Tom et al. “Physical interventions to interrupt or reduce the spread of respiratory viruses.” Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 30 Jan 2023. Statement on ‘Physical interventions to interrupt or reduce the spread of respiratory viruses’ review. Cochrane.org. 10 Mar 2023. Tufekci, Zeyn...
Aug 13, 2021 · Claim: A meme suggested that face masks are useless against COVID-19, citing a warning label required by the Food and Drug Administration for non-surgical face masks.
Jul 28, 2021 · The CDC also recommended that all people with a weakened immune system also wear a mask, regardless of the number of cases in their area. The new guidelines come as many religious leaders have...
Aug 21, 2021 · By. Paige Pfleger. 4-Minute Listen. Playlist. A church that earlier denied the severity of COVID-19 changed its messaging after an outbreak. But another church continues to say mask wearers and...
Feb 9, 2021 · But as studies have shown, and as Dr. Anthony Fauci has pointed out many times, masks are the single most effective way to protect yourself and others from getting infected with the coronavirus...
Jan 14, 2022 · The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday updated its guidance on masks for the general public, now saying that people "may choose" to wear N95 and KN95 masks because they offer...