Scientists have appreciated the need to protect the face and hands from covid
Wearing masks reduces the incidence of COVID-19 by 53%, according to a global study. These findings highlight the need to continue to use face protection, social distancing, and hand washing alongside vaccination programs, the researchers said.
The first global study of its kind shows that wearing masks is the single most effective public health measure in the fight against coronavirus, reducing the likelihood of infection by 53%.
According to The Guardian, vaccines are safe and effective and save lives around the world. But most of them do not provide one hundred percent protection against COVID, especially since in most countries not all residents are vaccinated, and it is not yet known whether vaccinations will prevent the transmission of new coronavirus variants in the future.
Globally, the number of COVID cases surpassed 250 million this month. The virus still infects 50 million people worldwide every 90 days due to the highly contagious variant of Delta, thousands of people die every day.
A systematic review and meta-analysis of non-pharmaceutical interventions has shown for the first time that mask wearing, social distancing and hand washing are all effective measures to contain disease, with mask wearing being the most effective.
Researchers from Monash University and the University of Edinburgh say multifaceted measures, such as blocking and closing borders, schools and jobs, require further analysis to assess their potential negative impact on the population. Prior to that, experts were denied to draw firm conclusions about the effectiveness of such measures in the fight against COVID.
Now, the results of more than 30 studies from around the world have been analyzed in detail, which showed a statistically significant reduction in the incidence of COVID by 53% when wearing a mask and 25% with physical distance. Hand washing also showed a significant 53% reduction in COVID incidence, although this was not statistically significant after adjusting for the small number of included hand washing studies.
Detailed analysis of other measures, including quarantine and isolation, general isolation and closures of borders, schools and jobs, was not possible due to differences in study design, outcome rates and quality, the researchers said.
The wearing of masks was adopted in many countries at the start of the pandemic, but nearly two years later, many have abandoned some or all of their original requirements. But this month, the Dutch government decided to reintroduce the mandatory wearing of face masks to slow the latest spike in infections. Romania, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Poland have also recently tightened their masking rules. However, Hungary, which has seen a sharp increase in the number of cases this month, is resisting the mandatory wearing of masks indoors.
In England, the legal requirement to wear a mask ended in July, with the exception of medical facilities and nursing homes, with the exception of exemptions. In Wales, masks are still required on public transport and in all public areas except pubs and restaurants. In Scotland, face protectors still need to be worn in shops and on public transport, as well as in pubs and restaurants when not seated. In Northern Ireland, it is still necessary to wear masks on public transport and in shops.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was heavily criticized this month by the World Health Organization’s special envoy for COVID after being photographed naked while visiting a hospital. Commenting on photos of Johnson walking without a mask through Hexham General, Dr. David Nabarro told Sky News: “We know that wearing a mask reduces risk, we know that keeping a physical distance reduces the risk, we know that maintaining good hygiene through regular hand washing and coughing in the elbow reduces the risk. “
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