Updated CDC guidelines: Cloth masks protects wearers as well as others

Updated guidelines from the Centres for Disease Control (CDC) in the United States stress that cloth face masks help protect wearers from SARS-CoV-2, as well as shielding others. Previously, protecting surrounding people was seen as the main role of masks. Multi-layer cloth masks are highly effective.

Aside from growing evidence of the effectiveness of masks in reducing COVID-19, the guidelines say: “An economic analysis using US data found that, given these effects, increasing universal masking by 15% could prevent the need for lockdowns and reduce associated losses of up to $1 trillion or about 5% of gross domestic product.”

Below are the updated guidelines published by the CDC on 10 November 2020…..more