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, [thehill.com]

emerging evidence shows face coverings can slow the transmission of COVID-19. A study published in Health Affairs this week found that mandated use of face masks in public was associated with a reduction in the daily COVID-19 growth rate in 15 states and Washington, D.C., compared to states that did not have such requirements

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. [www.washingtonpost.com]

it appears that face-mask use is an important control against multiple modes of SARS-CoV-2 transmission,” including droplets and aerosols, said Jeffrey Shaman, an epidemiologist at Columbia University.

He highlighted Asian countries such as South Korea, Taiwan and Vietnam that had high rates of face-mask use early in the pandemic. They “have had better success squashing the virus and keeping their economies going,” Shaman said.

Werner Ernst Bischoff, a professor of infectious diseases at Wake Forest University known for his studies on respiratory transmission of viruses, said masks are critical because the simple act of breathing releases potentially infected particles. Loud talking, yelling and singing release even more.

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. [www.washingtonpost.com]

A study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences finds that face masks are “the most effective means to prevent interhuman transmission,” an inexpensive bulwark that, when combined with physical distancing, quarantine and contact tracing, is “the most likely fighting opportunity to stop the COVID-19 pandemic” absent an effective vaccine or drug therapy. The study, by Renyi Zhang of Texas A&M University, and colleagues, looked at outbreaks of the coronavirus in Wuhan, China; in northern Italy; and in New York from Jan. 23 to May 9. They concluded that “the difference with and without mandated face covering represents the determinant in shaping the pandemic trends in the three epicenters.” Face masks alone “significantly reduced the number of infections

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. [arstechnica.com]

an economics institute in Germany looked at the implementation of mask rules in the city of Jena, comparing it to other areas in Germany. It concluded that the rules reduced the growth of the infection rate by 40 percent.

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from Fact-checking six claims about effectiveness of masks for coronavirus

[www.statesman.com]

A Facebook user declared, “I’m starting a public movement called TAKE IT OFF,” in attempting a six-point takedown of facial coverings and how effective they are in fighting COVID-19.

The post features an image labeled “Face Mask Safety — Know The Facts Before You Wear One.” The image makes this six-part claim about masks:

“Decreases oxygen intake; increases toxin inhalation; shuts down immune system; increases virus risk; scientifically inaccurate; effectiveness not studied.”

“Well, that all sounds like a lot of dangerous nonsense,” [said] Texas A&M University-Texarkana virologist Ben Neuman