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CDC Journal: Cloth Masks ‘May Give Users a False Sense of Protection’ Against Coronavirus
EDWIN MORA
28 Oct 2020
“More research” is necessary to definitively determine the protective efficiency of cloth masks . . . a report in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Emerging Infectious Diseases journal recently noted.
A report published in the peer-reviewed journal’s October 2020 edition indicated that there is no conclusive evidence showing cloth masks help protect users against the coronavirus, suggesting the science on the subject is not yet settled.
The authors wrote:
In the report, the authors warned that cloth masks could provide users with a “false sense of protection.”More research on cloth masks is needed to inform their use as an alternative to surgical masks/respirators in the event of shortage or high-demand situations. To our knowledge, only 1 randomized controlled trial has been conducted to examine the efficacy of cloth masks in healthcare settings, and the results do not favor use of cloth masks.
More randomized controlled trials should be conducted in community settings to test the efficacy of cloth masks against respiratory infections.
“The general public should be educated about mask use because cloth masks may give users a false sense of protection because of their limited protection against acquiring infection,” they noted. . . .
. . . Uncertainty as to cloth masks’ efficacy was a common theme throughout the report, with the authors suggesting they may or may not protect users.
Echoing other statements on the subject, the authors wrote, “Cloth masks may provide some protection . . .
According to the authors, cloth masks are the least effective face barrier against respiratory infections like COVID-19.
“The filtration effectiveness of cloth masks is generally lower than that of medical masks and respirators,” they wrote, adding:
. . . The American Society for Microbiology recently published the results of a study that found the protective efficiency of face masks against airborne transmission of the Chinese virus “is unknown.”During a pandemic, cloth masks may be the only option available; however, they should be used as a last resort when medical masks and respirators are not available. Cloth mask use should not be mandated for healthcare workers . . .
“Recommendations to wear masks to protect the wearer from droplet infections are based on the assumption that droplets travel short distances only,” the CDC journal said.
“The filtration, effectiveness, fit, and performance of cloth masks are inferior to those of medical masks and respirators,” it concluded, later adding, “Cloth masks are a more suitable option for community use when medical masks are unavailable.”