The coronavirus pandemic has led to many measures that aim to reduce the risk of infection. While many of the actions help slow the spread, some steps are more effective than others. A new study suggests that wearing a mask in areas at the epicentre of the disease could have prevented thousands of infections.
A study published in PNAS: The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA, states that masks are more important than other steps such as social distancing or lockdown orders. Wearing the masks prevents the spread of the COVID-19 better than these measures.
The recent study had looked into infection rates across the world and how these changed when preventative measures were taken. The infection rate changed drastically when mask-wearing was implemented in Northern Italy on April 6th. The same shift was noted in New York City after the mask rule came into effect on April 17th. When these rules came in, New York and Northern Italy were the hardest hit areas for COVID-19 numbers in the world.
The mask-wearing rule in New York saw infections fall by around 3% per day while numbers increased around the country. “This protective measure alone significantly reduced the number of infections, that is, by over 78,000 in Italy from April 6th to May 9th and over 66,000 in New York City from April 17th to May 9th,” researchers stated.
Protective measures such as social distancing, quarantine, and hand sanitising were already in place in both Italy and New York. While these measures are effective against direct contact spread, they do not prevent airborne transmission. Mask wearing has been proven to be most effective against airborne contamination according to the research.
Due to the link between mask-wearing and infection numbers, the research points to airborne transmission as the primary way people are infected with COVID-19. As face masks block you from inhaling virus particles or stop you from spreading it if you are infected, the best protection for everyone is to wear masks.
Reusable Face Mask Service
With the increasing demand for face masks and protective measures in the current crisis, Lindstrom launched a reusable face mask service. The fabric masks act as a barrier for saliva or discharge when a person coughs or sneezes. It also stops the wearer from touching their face, which is also a significant cause of infection.
As part of the Lindstrom reusable face mask service, we deliver enough face masks for all of your employees. We take care of the laundry, storing, and providing the face masks, so you save time and money.
Contact us today if you are looking for the best face masks for retail workers or want to learn more about our reusable face mask service.
To know more about Rental Workwear Service visit https://old.lindstromgroup.com/in/