Scientific brief : Community use of cloth masks to control the spread of SARS-CoV-2

Details

• Corporate Authors:
  National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (U.S.). Division of Viral Diseases.
• Description:
  Updated May 7, 2021
  
  SARS-CoV-2 infection is transmitted predominately by inhalation of respiratory droplets generated when people cough, sneeze, sing, talk, or breathe. CDC recommends community use of masks, specifically non-valved multi-layer cloth masks, to prevent transmission of SARS-CoV-2. Masks are primarily intended to reduce the emission of virus-laden droplets (“source control”), which is especially relevant for asymptomatic or presymptomatic infected wearers who feel well and may be unaware of their infectiousness to others, and who are estimated to account for more than 50% of transmissions.1,2 Masks also help reduce inhalation of these droplets by the wearer (“filtration for wearer protection”). The community benefit of masking for SARS-CoV-2 control is due to the combination of these effects; individual prevention benefit increases with increasing numbers of people using masks consistently and correctly.
  
  
• Content Notes:
  Background -- Source Control to Block Exhaled Virus -- Filtration for Wearer Protection -- Human Studies of Masking and SARS-CoV-2 Transmission -- Adverse Health Effects of Mask Wearing -- Conclusions.
• Subjects:
  Air Microbiology Coronavirus Infections/prevention & Control COVID-19/prevention & Control Masks Pandemics SARS-CoV-2
• Document Type:
  Webpage
• Collection(s):
  Stephen B. Thacker CDC Library
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:6b6c3782c3c7650bc38c961d7ce4b7eedfc116270c083713ff2e9f56743ee908
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/105951/cdc_105951_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 167.71 KB ]