New Research On Masks Show They Can Act Like A Vaccine
This is the strongest evidence yet that masks really work
As a healthcare professional who has actually taken care of patients afflicted with COVID-19 on the front lines, it has been distressing to me to see the active campaign against masks. Yes, this would not be the first time Americans have resisted masks in the midst of a pandemic. At the same time, I would have hoped that we would know better 100 years later. This is especially true since the latest research shows that masks really do work and are very effective at reducing the spread of COVID-19.
Researchers out of the University of California San Francisco looked at virologic, ecologic, and epidemiologic evidence in the literature. They found that wearing masks reduces what’s called the “viral inoculum,” which is the amount of virus that one can potentially inhale into his or her respiratory system.
The higher the viral inoculum, the more likely someone will get infected and get severe illness. The lower the inoculum, the less likely someone will get the disease, because there are less viruses in that inoculum. What’s more, while masks do reduce droplets and particles that get into your mouth and nose, it is not 100%.
