Most of us wore masks for three years. Now study claims it did 'little to nothing' to curb Covid-19
Wearing masks didn't help prevent Covid-19?
A new study has claimed thatthe face masks worn by peopleround-the-clock to curb the spread of the Covid-19 virus did ‘little to nothing’ to stop the transmission. A new scientific review titled “Physical interventions to interrupt or reduce the spread of respiratory viruses" claimsthat the face masks failed to play a significant role in controlling the spread of the virus.
The review, which was published by Cochrane Library, included the observation of 12 researchers from around the world. The study claimed thatresearch was conducted on the results of 78 randomised controlled trials to understand whether the physical interventions, which included hand washing and wearing face masks, restricted the spread of coronavirus.
ALSO READ | Australian scientists FINALLY solve the COVID-19 puzzle; discover lung protein that can kill the virus
“Wearing a mask may make little to no difference in how many people caught a flu-like illness/COVID-like illness (nine studies; 276,917 people); and probably makes little or no difference in how many people have flu/COVID confirmed by a laboratory test (six studies; 13,919 people)," claimed the authors as quoted by Fox News.
In the review, it was claimed thatN95 masks, when compared to medical/surgical masks,did not make much difference in how many people caught the flu and did not help in reducing the number of people who caught flu-like illness or any other respiratory illness.
The authors said that they had collected the data for study during the non-epidemic flu seasons, the H1N1 flu pandemic in 2009, the Covid-19 pandemic and epidemic flu seasons up to 2016, Fox News reported.
WATCH | India launches its first nasal vaccine 'iNCOVACC' against COVID-19
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had initially claimed that it is not necessary to wear face masks, however, later they appealed to people to wear masks in 2020. CDC Director Dr Robert Redfield, again in September, called the face masks the most powerful health tool after which they became mandatory across the world.
(With inputs from agencies)
You cannow write for wionews.comand be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with ushere.
WATCH WION LIVE HERE