Estimating the value of face coverings during the COVID-19 epidemic: a dynamic causal modelling study.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

The value of face coverings in the pandemic has been disputed. Dynamic causal modelling (DCM) allows one to test hypotheses about the nature of viral spread and effectiveness of interventions. Our aim was to quantify the impact of face coverings on viral transmission and deaths associated with COVID-19 between 2020 and 2023 in the UK.

Methods

A DCM of the COVID-19 outbreak in the UK was used. It combines conventional (ie, Susceptible Exposed Infectious Recovered (SEIR)) epidemiological and sociobehavioural models to simultaneously fit measures of prevalence, clinical data, vaccine use and fluctuations in mobility. The model was augmented to include an effect of reported use of face coverings within the past week by adults in reducing community transmission, whic

SUBMITTER: Bowie C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12742113 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature