Effectiveness of Adding a Mask Recommendation to Other Public Health Measures
Authors: Janet Rand
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2021)

LettersAugust 2021Effectiveness of Adding a Mask Recommendation to Other Public Health MeasuresFREEJanet Rand, ODJanet Rand, ODNewbury, MassachusettsSearch for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/L21-0400 SectionsAboutVisual AbstractPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail TO THE EDITOR: Bundgaard and colleagues' study (1) does not show that mask wearing is ineffective in mitigating the spread of SARS-CoV-2. It instead shows what we already knew: Wearing a mask does not protect the person wearing the mask as much as we would like. The reason you wear a mask is to keep your viral particles to yourself and not spread them to others. Those opposed to masks are unfortunately using this study as “proof” that they don't need to wear them. Doing so is irresponsible, and this should be made clear in the title of the study. The Discussion section of Bundgaard and colleagues' article states the following:The findings, however, should not be used to conclude that a recommendation for everyone to wear masks in the community would not be effective in reducing SARS-CoV-2 infections, because the trial did not test the role of masks in source control of SARS-CoV-2 infection. During the study period, authorities did not recommend face mask use outside hospital settings and mask use was rare in community settings … This means that study participants' exposure was overwhelmingly to persons not wearing masks.Reference1. Bundgaard H, Bundgaard JS, Raaschou-Pedersen DET, et al. Effectiveness of adding a mask recommendation to other public health measures to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection in Danish mask wearers. A randomized controlled trial. Ann Intern Med. 2021;174:335-43. [PMID: 33205991]. doi:10.7326/M20-6817 LinkGoogle Scholar Comments0 CommentsSign In to Submit A Comment Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: Newbury, MassachusettsDisclosures: Disclosures can be viewed at www.acponline.org/authors/icmje/ConflictOfInterestForms.do?msNum=L21-0400. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoEffectiveness of Adding a Mask Recommendation to Other Public Health Measures to Prevent SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Danish Mask Wearers Henning Bundgaard , Johan Skov Bundgaard , Daniel Emil Tadeusz Raaschou-Pedersen , Christian von Buchwald , Tobias Todsen , Jakob Boesgaard Norsk , Mia M. Pries-Heje , Christoffer Rasmus Vissing , Pernille B. Nielsen , Ulrik C. Winsløw , Kamille Fogh , Rasmus Hasselbalch , Jonas H. Kristensen , Anna Ringgaard , Mikkel Porsborg Andersen , Nicole Bakkegård Goecke , Ramona Trebbien , Kerstin Skovgaard , Thomas Benfield , Henrik Ullum , Christian Torp-Pedersen , and Kasper Iversen Effectiveness of Adding a Mask Recommendation to Other Public Health Measures Hans Gaines Effectiveness of Adding a Mask Recommendation to Other Public Health Measures Matthew A. Spinelli , David V. Glidden , Efstathios D. Gennatas , George W. Rutherford , and Monica Gandhi Effectiveness of Adding a Mask Recommendation to Other Public Health Measures Carl Llor Effectiveness of Adding a Mask Recommendation to Other Public Health Measures Brendan Moran Metrics August 2021Volume 174, Issue 8Page: 1194-1194 ePublished: 17 August 2021 Issue Published: August 2021 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2021 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...