The impact of face-mask mandates on all-cause mortality in Switzerland: a quasi-experimental study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Whereas there is strong evidence that wearing a face mask is effective in reducing the spread of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), evidence on the impact of mandating the wearing of face masks on deaths from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and all-cause mortality is more sparse and likely to vary by context. Focusing on a quasi-experimental setting in Switzerland, we aimed to determine (i) the effect of face-mask mandates for indoor public spaces on all-cause mortality; and (ii) how the effect has varied over time, and by age and sex.

Methods

Our analysis exploited the fact that between July and October 2020, nine cantons in Switzerland extended a face-mask mandate at different time points from being restricted to public transpo

SUBMITTER: De Giorgi G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9527954 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature