The virus can be transmitted even when an infected person is asymptotic or minimally symptomatic. Face masks can reduce the likelihood that virus particles may spread between health providers and patients in healthcare settings.

University of California, Davis

- Use as a Precautionary Measure
- Blocking of Aerosol Agents
- Reduce Transmission from Asymptotic Individuals

Arguments Supporting the Use of Face Masks

Klompas, M., Morris, C. A., Sinclair, J., Pearson, M., & Shenoy, E. S. (2020). Universal masking in hospitals in the Covid-19 era. New England Journal of Medicine, 382(21), e63.

https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2006372

Universal Masking in Hospitals in the Covid-19 Era

Eikenberry, S. E., Mancuso, M., Iboi, E., Phan, T., Eikenberry, K., Kuang, Y., ... & Gumel, A. B. (2020). To mask or not to mask: Modeling the potential for face mask use by the general public to curtail the COVID-19 pandemic. Infectious Disease Modelling.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.idm.2020.04.001

To mask or not to mask: Modeling the potential for face mask use by the general public to curtail the COVID-19 pandemic

Advocates state the importance of face masks to reduce future collateral damage in which hospitalization rates and/or mortality rates may increase without them.

Use as a Precautionary Measure

The virus particles may remain in the air for several hours; laboratory experiments have shown that surgical masks are effective in blocking such agents.

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