Effect of Wearing a Face Mask on Hand-to-Face Contact by Children in a Simulated School Environment: The Back-to-School COVID-19 Simulation Randomized Clinical Trial.

ABSTRACT:

Importance

Wearing a face mask in school can reduce SARS-CoV-2 transmission but it may also lead to increased hand-to-face contact, which in turn could increase infection risk through self-inoculation.

Objective

To evaluate the effect of wearing a face mask on hand-to-face contact by children while at school.

Design, setting, and participants

This prospective randomized clinical trial randomized students from junior kindergarten to grade 12 at 2 schools in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, during August 2020 in a 1:1 ratio to either a mask or control class during a 2-day school simulation. Classes were video recorded from 4 angles to accurately capture outcomes.

Interventions

Participants in the mask arm were instructed to bring their own mask and wear it at all times.

SUBMITTER: Science M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9593317 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature