CDC now says the masks protect Covid-19 carriers

The new guide cites a number of studies showing that masks reduce the risk of transmitting or contracting the virus by more than 70% in various cases. One study found that mutual use of masks helped prevent two infected hairdressers from transmitting the virus to 67 clients who were then interviewed. Another followed infected people who spent more than 10 hours in the flight without infecting other passengers when the masks were used.

The agency cited an economic analysis that a 15% increase in universal masking could prevent losses of up to $ 1 trillion.

“The relationship between source control and personal protection is likely complementary and possibly synergistic, so that individual benefits increase with increasing use of the community mask,” the CDC said.

Some cloth masks are nearly as good as surgical masks at blocking droplets, the CDC said. Polypropylene can generate a static charge that traps particles, the CDC said, while silk could repel wet droplets and be more comfortable.

“Multiple layers of fabric with a higher number of threads have demonstrated superior performance compared to single layers of fabric with fewer threads, filtering in some cases nearly 50 percent of fine particles smaller than 1 micron,” the CDC said.

“It’s a two-way street,” Dr Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said on MSNBC on Tuesday. “You protect others, their mask protects you and your mask protects you too.”