CDC now says face masks protect the wearer -- and the economy

[Klaralven]

Wearing a face mask doesn’t just protect others from catching the coronavirus — it protects the wearer too, and even the economy, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control said Tuesday, in its most explicit endorsement yet of masks.

In a scientific brief published Tuesday, the CDC said that while “masks are primarily intended to reduce the emission of virus-laden droplets,” they “also help reduce inhalation of these droplets by the wearer.”

“Experimental and epidemiological data support community masking to reduce the spread of SARS-CoV-2,” the CDC said. “The prevention benefit of masking is derived from the combination of source control and personal protection for the mask wearer. … Individual benefit increases with increasing community mask use.”

In other words, the more people who wear masks in a community, the less the virus will spread.

The CDC also noted an economic benefit, reporting an analysis using U.S. data found that “increasing universal masking by 15% could prevent the need for lockdowns and reduce associated losses of up to $1 trillion, or about 5% of gross domestic product.”

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/cdc-now-says-face-masks-protect-the-wearer-and-the-economy-11605055182?mod=home-page

[BigmanPigman]

1. Interesting timing of this from the CDC.

[bamagal62]

2. And, how long did that take?

8 months?

[marybourg]

7. Pretty amazing, especially when it just seems like

common sense.

[SheltieLover]

3. Playing to idiot Americans' egocentrism & greed

Good idea, if it will get them to comply.

[KentuckyWoman]

4. Maybe

With universal mask wearing, of course. We are all keeping our droplets in our own space. When I'm the only one with it on and these idiots make a point of coughing right where I am or yelling or whatever ... minimal at best.

Yes that's what the article says... but too many people don't get past the subject.

[Ms. Toad]

6. That's not what the article says.

It (and the supporting brief linked to) say it ALSO provides effective filtration for the wearer.

[BlueSpot]

5. I believe in masks- CDC not so much

I no longer believe in the CDC. No trust. They blew that.

How many books and movies have a heroic member of the CDC fighting for our health? They have their go bags by the door and they defend science every step of the way. Happens every time and they always save the day. A nice scenario.

Now we have a CDC that caves to White House pressure. A CDC that weasel-words their statements. I have no trust in the CDC any more.

If they say wear as mask, well, yay. Past that, I have zero excitement for this.

[Klaralven]

9. The CDC has been a real disappointment

Screwing up the test kits in the beginning was a real problem.

Being against masks, then sort of for them, now for them more has lacked common sense.

Can't recall exactly, but I think that they agreed with the original WHO position that travel should not be restricted.

It would seem common sense that if you are fighting an infectious disease that reducing movement and reducing contact between people would slow the spread.

[applegrove]

8. Duh...this was known by June.

Last edited Wed Nov 11, 2020, 07:07 AM - Edit history (1)

[BumRushDaShow]

10. Basically what the non-N95 mask does

is mitigate. Potential exposure through them is not "zero" but any reduction of viral load that can be greatest from large droplets, means less of a chance of enough virus gaining a foothold to replicate inside the body via the respiratory system.

The aerosolized sizes of viral-laden droplets are going to be in the mix, BUT the key here is that they are "in the mix" and not the sole form, and would most likely be at the lower end of the droplet size ranges in an air sample in general.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

11. K&R