Evidence of the effectiveness of masks

Masks help protect people around you

COVID-19 is mainly transmitted from person to person through respiratory droplets. When you cough, sneeze, speak, shout or sing, respiratory droplets will fly into the air. These water droplets may then fall into the mouth or nose of people near you, or may be inhaled.

A mask is a simple barrier that can help prevent your respiratory droplets from coming into contact with others. Research has shown that wearing a mask on the nose and mouth can reduce the ejection of water droplets.

Even if you don't feel uncomfortable, you should wear a mask. This is because several studies have found that COVID-19 patients who have never shown symptoms (asymptomatic) and those who have not yet shown symptoms (symptomatic) can still transmit the virus to others. Wearing a mask helps to protect those around you in case you become infected but do not experience any symptoms.

Wearing a mask is particularly important when you are indoors with people who cannot stay and cannot maintain a distance of at least 6 feet, as COVID-19 mainly spreads among people in close contact with each other.

Your mask provides you with some protection

Masks can also provide you with some protection. How it protects you from virus respiration may depend on the fabric used and the method of making the mask (such as the type of fabric, the number of layers of fabric, and the degree of fit of the mask).