Effects of Face Mask Mandates on COVID-19 Transmission in 51 Countries: Retrospective Event Study.
Anatol-Fiete NäherMatthias Schulte-AlthoffMarvin KopkaFelix BalzerFrancisco Pozo-MartinPublished in: JMIR public health and surveillance (2024)
Contrary to recommendations, mask mandates can be used as an effective measure to reduce SARS-CoV-2 reproduction numbers. However, mandates alone are not sufficient to reduce growth rates of COVID-19 cases. Our study adds external validity to the existing randomized controlled trials on the effectiveness of face masks to reduce the spread of SARS-CoV-2.