A recent study published in the Southern Medical Journal reports that the use of facemasks did little to stop the spread of COVID, reduce hospitalizations and even deaths from COVID.
The peer-reviewed study looked at the impact facemasks had on Bexar County, Texas, the state’s fourth-largest county.
While factoring in an incubation period for the virus, the study compared the COVID spread in the county between June 2 to July 2, 2020 when facemasks were not required, with a period of July 8, 2020 and Aug 12, 2020 when facemasks were required.
The study found there was no statistical difference in the spread of COVID, hospitalizations and deaths between the two periods:
READ: New Study Finds Mask Mandate Failed to Reduce COVID Deaths, Hospitalizations, or Cases AND Analysis of the Effects of COVID-19 Mask Mandates on Hospital Resource Consumption and Mortality at the County Level
A similar study conducted by the US Centers for Disease Control also found that facemask usage had little impact on the spread of COVID in schools. READ: CDC: Schools With Mask Mandates Didn’t See Statistically Significant Different Rates of COVID Transmission From Schools With Optional Policies
A large Danish study came to a similar conclusion:
There has been conflicting reports on the success of facemasks on stopping the spread of COVID. Part of the problem may be due to the effectiveness of different styles of facemasks.
A study by Canada’s Waterloo University found that the popular blue mask used by many around the world was only 10% effective in stopping the spread of the COVID virus. This was due in large part because the mask does not fit properly around the face and leaves large gaps for the virus to seep in and out. READ: Blue surgical face masks are only 10% effective in preventing COVID infection, new study finds
RELATED: Watch: Chaos Errupts at Target as Man Attacks Woman for Not Wearing Mask
