UK Research Team: "Proper Mask Usage Alone Can Prevent the Second Wave of COVID-19"

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] A research team at the University of Cambridge in the UK announced that even if only 50% of the total population wears masks, the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) can be significantly reduced, and the second wave of infection can be prevented until a vaccine is developed.

According to CNBC on the 10th (local time), Professor Richard Stutt and his research team at the University of Cambridge combined epidemiological models and population mobility models to analyze the transmission patterns of COVID-19 according to mask usage rates using the reproduction number. They found that the reproduction number significantly decreases just by wearing masks. The reproduction number refers to the number of people that one infected person can directly transmit the virus to. The research team’s investigation showed that if more than 50% of the population wears masks in daily life, the reproduction number drops below 1.

Professor Stutt, who led the study, said, "If mask-wearing is continuously implemented in combination with some social distancing policies, it will prevent a second wave before a vaccine is developed and allow economic activities to resume." He added, "The most effective way to ease lockdowns is to encourage everyone to wear any type of mask in public places."

However, in the United States, the mask-wearing rate is known to be only in the 30% range. CNBC reported that according to a Gallup poll conducted in April, only 36% of Americans said they always wear masks, 32% said they wear them sometimes, and 31% said they do not wear masks at all.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.