Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2021 Mar;174(3):419-420.
doi: 10.7326/M20-7448. Epub 2020 Nov 18.

The Role of Masks in Mitigating the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic: Another Piece of the Puzzle

Affiliations

The Role of Masks in Mitigating the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic: Another Piece of the Puzzle

Christine Laine et al. Ann Intern Med. 2021 Mar.

Abstract

Bundgaard and colleagues report the results of a unique randomized controlled trial of mask wearing in the community to mitigate SARS-CoV-2 infection. The editorialists discuss how the findings add to what we know about mask wearing in the community and risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Disclosures: Disclosures can be viewed at www.acponline.org/authors/icmje/ConflictOfInterestForms.do?msNum=M20-7448.

References

    1. Bundgaard H, Bundgaard JS, Raaschou-Pedersen DET, et al. Effectiveness of adding a mask recommendation to other public health measures to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection in Danish mask wearers. A randomized controlled trial. Ann Intern Med. 18 November 2020. [Epub ahead of print]. doi:10.7326/M20-6817 - PMC - PubMed
    1. Tufekci Z. On masks and clinical trials, Rand Paul's tweeting is just plain wrong. The New York Times. 6 November 2020. Accessed at www.nytimes.com/2020/11/06/opinion/sunday/coronavirus-masks.html on 8 November 2020.
    1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Scientific Brief: Community Use of Cloth Masks to Control the Spread of SARS-CoV-2. Updated 10 November 2020. Accessed at www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/more/masking-science-sars-cov2.html on 11 November 2020.
    1. Chu DK , Akl EA , Duda S , et al. COVID-19 Systematic Urgent Review Group Effort (SURGE) Study Authors. Physical distancing, face masks, and eye protection to prevent person-to-person transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet. 2020;395:1973-87. [PMID: ] doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(20)31142-9 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Chou R , Dana T , Jungbauer R , et al. Masks for prevention of respiratory virus infections, including SARS-CoV-2, in health care and community settings. A living rapid review. Ann Intern Med. 2020;173:542-55. doi: 10.7326/M20-3213 - DOI - PMC - PubMed

MeSH terms