Asymptomatic People Should Wear Face Masks

Updated: April 4, 2:53 p.m.

CDC: Use Face Coverings in Public

As more studies show that people without symptoms of COVID-19 are spreading the virus, the CDC is advising that people use cloth masks or face coverings in public.

Scientists now know that a portion of people with the coronavirus may lack symptoms – possibly 25% or higher. And others who are pre-symptomatic can transmit the virus before they show signs of COVID-19.

“In light of this new evidence, the CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings,” U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams, MD, said, including in grocery stores and pharmacies. “The CDC is always looking at the data and evolving the recommendations, and new ones will come as the evidence dictates.”

The guideline discourages people from using medical-grade or surgical-grade masks, such as N95 masks, and instead, leave those for medical professionals. People can purchase basic cloth or fabric masks online or make them at home.

If people choose to wear a face covering, they should wash their hands first, Adams said. They should not touch their faces while wearing a mask, and carefully remove the mask after use and wash their hands.

“This is all about you protecting me and me protecting you,” Adams said.

The new precaution doesn’t replace CDC guidance on social distancing, including staying at home as much as possible. That includes staying six feet away from others, not shaking hands, and washing hands with soap and water for 20 seconds throughout the day.

Asymptomatic spread of COVID-19

“It’s good to think about wearing a mask as protecting your community and asking your community to do the same for you.” Jeremy Howard

However, the idea of universal face mask use in the U.S. has been gaining support with the growing belief by health experts that many people who have no idea they are infected are spreading the virus because they either have no symptoms or have not begun to experience symptoms.

A study by researchers in Singapore estimated that around 10% of new coronavirus infections may be spread by people who carry the virus but have not displayed any symptoms such as fever, cough, difficulty breathing or sore throat.

And, according to Jeremy Howard, a Melbourne-raised research scientist at the University of San Francisco who has become one of America’s leading champion of universal mask-wearing, stated that, “The primary transmission [of coronavirus] is now known to be droplet-based, and we now know that that transmission largely occurs in the first seven days after infection, when people are largely asymptomatic. So that means that if you’re highly infectious, you probably won’t know it. So we should all assume that we are potentially lethal to people around us. The way we are potentially lethal to people around us is when we speak: that’s when these micro droplets get ejected up to six feet.”

In response, the CDC has changed how it defined the risks of infection, saying essentially that anyone may be a carrier, whether they have COVID-19 symptoms or not. But neither it nor the World Health Organization changed their recommendations that everyone did not have to wear masks.

CDC reconsiders guidance to wear masks

There is a growing number of Americans and vocal proponents of wearing face masks believe that wearing a mask reduces how many times they touch their eyes, nose and mouth, “but there aren’t any data to support that that’s a useful intervention,” Dr. Schaffner says.

There has been a fair amount of person-to-person coronavirus spread by people not showing symptoms, the CDC will look at whether having more Americans wear masks will prevent transmission of COVID-19.

Nevertheless, staying at home, “social distancing” and washing your hands remain the most important things people can do to help flatten the curve and mitigate the spread of the coronavirus.

References:

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