Mask-wearing and control of SARS-CoV-2 transmission in the USA: a cross-sectional study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Face masks have become commonplace across the USA because of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) epidemic. Although evidence suggests that masks help to curb the spread of the disease, there is little empirical research at the population level. We investigate the association between self-reported mask-wearing, physical distancing, and SARS-CoV-2 transmission in the USA, along with the effect of statewide mandates on mask uptake.

Methods

Serial cross-sectional surveys were administered via a web platform to randomly surveyed US individuals aged 13 years and older, to query self-reports of face mask-wearing. Survey responses were combined with instantaneous reproductive number (R_t) estimates from two publicly available sources

SUBMITTER: Rader B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7817421 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature