Face Masks Greatly Curb Spread

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention initially discouraged people from wearing face masks unless they had COVID-19 and were showing symptoms but, that guidance changed on April 3rd, after studies found that the virus can be spread by asymptomatic individuals, or before symptoms start to show. Now, the CDC recommends that nearly everyone wear a facial covering in public and in areas where social distancing isn’t possible. There are numerous studies that suggest if 80% of people wear a mask in public COVID-19 transmission could be halted so, until a vaccine or a cure for COVID-19 is discovered, a cloth face masks might be the most important tool we currently have to fight the pandemic. The low cost of wearing masks – which can be made at home with no tools – and the potential to slow COVID-19 transmission with wide scale use should motivate everyone to protect themselves and others by wearing a mask in public.