Wearing a mask and keeping your distance – these measures significantly reduce the risk of Covid-19. This is according to a new research analysis in the medical journal The BMJ.
The scientists have 72 studies into corona measures collected. Of these, 8 studies really looked at the effect of corona measures on the risk of getting corona disease (covid-19). The results: wearing a mouth mask halves the risk of corona disease in the population. This measure is therefore very effective. Keeping your distance leads to a quarter fewer cases of covid-19. So that’s a close second. Washing hands also halves the risk, but there is a lot of uncertainty in the figures. They fan out enormously. Because of this uncertainty, you cannot draw this conclusion yet.
what distance
The scientists were also unable to draw conclusions about other corona measures. So whether measures such as quarantine, isolation, hard lockdowns, closing borders, schools or workplaces will help, they cannot say with this collection of studies. Of course, these measures also have negative effects that must be weighed up. The study also did not determine which distance is best: 1, 1.5 or 2 meters or perhaps more. Data on this still need to be collected.
Self-stitched or surgical
Another question that the research was unable to answer is about the type of mouth mask. Do the self-sewn fabric mouth masks that people keep taking out of their jacket pockets work that well? In Germany and Austria, people wear a much more advanced surgical or FFP2 face mask (also called N95). An article in NRC on this issue concluded that the type of mask did not matter. A cloth face mask works well, as long as it fits snugly on the face and can cover the mouth and nose at the same time. Only people with vulnerable health are advised by the government to wear a medical mouth mask.
