Major Update! #Masks4All is Working: The U.S. CDC (Center for Disease Control) Now Recommends Americans Wear Face Masks (April 3)

The U.S. “CDC (Center for Disease Control) recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings” because “a significant portion of individuals with coronavirus lack symptoms.” –United States CDC (Center for Disease Control)

Hong Kong, Mongolia, South Korea and Taiwan, have covid-19 largely under control. They are all near the original epicenter of the pandemic in mainland China, and they have economic ties to China. Yet none has resorted to a lockdown. –Washington Post

“The big mistake in the U.S. and Europe, in my opinion, is that people aren’t wearing masks. This virus is transmitted by droplets and close contact. Droplets play a very important role—you’ve got to wear a mask, because when you speak, there are always droplets coming out of your mouth. Many people have asymptomatic or presymptomatic infections. If they are wearing face masks, it can prevent droplets that carry the virus from escaping and infecting others.” –China’s CDC Director

“Masks were hard to come by in South Korea until late February. Then the government stepped in and ensured a supply for every person in the country. Up until then, South Korea showed a similar-shaped exponential trajectory to Italy. After that point the exponential growth slowed, and today the number of active cases is decreasing. There is no economic lockdown there.” –The Guardian

Americans should wear face masks as a way to help stifle the spread of COVID-19. “If everybody does that, we’re each protecting each other.” –Dr. Anthony Fauci, one of the nation’s top doctors leading the public health fight against the coronavirus pandemic

“There is emerging evidence that asymptomatic and presymptomatic transmission of COVID-19 is possible…everyone, including people without symptoms, should be encouraged to wear nonmedical fabric face masks while in public.“

The WHO recommends masks for those infected with COVID-19 or those taking care of people infected with COVID-19. (source)

But ~50% of people who have COVID-19 are asymptomatic. (source)

So it follows basic logic that if we don’t know who has it and anyone who has it needs to wear a mask, then we should all wear masks.

Plus, there are “34 scientific papers indicating basic masks can be effective in reducing virus transmission in public — and not a single paper that shows clear evidence that they cannot.” (source) 

“Research supported by Nobel prize-winning virologist Harold Varmus tells us that placing a layer of cloth in front of a person’s face stops 99% of the droplets.” –The Guardian

The U.S. “CDC (Center for Disease Control) recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings” because “a significant portion of individuals with coronavirus lack symptoms.” –United States CDC (Center for Disease Control)

The Prime Minister of Slovakia released this statement after making masks mandatory: The WHO says “that only those infected should wear a mask. Only the future will show which countries have chosen the right approach and which haven’t.”

The Science Behind Wearing Masks

“Any type of general mask use (including homemade masks) is likely to decrease viral exposure and infection risk on a population level, in spite of imperfect fit and imperfect adherence.” –2008 Study Published In The U.S. National Library of Medicine

“The study proves the importance of washing hands and wearing face masks in public places because the virus can linger in the air attached to fine droplet particles.”
–Study published in the peer reviewed Practical Preventative Medicine

“A double layer of 100% cotton cloth is about 70% as effective as a surgical mask at capturing small particles (up to five times smaller than coronavirus).”
–Office of the Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India (study #1 & study #2)

1. Protect others by not spreading the virus if you have it.

2. Protect yourself by reducing your chances of catching the virus when you go outside.

3. Reduce face touching by wearing something that covers your face.

Source: Covid-19: Why We Should All Wear Masks – There Is New Scientific Rationale

“In a paper published in Nature on Friday, a five-year study from the University of Hong Kong and the University of Maryland has found that a simple non-fitted mask blocked 100% of coronavirus droplets and aerosol. There’s a vast chasm between what the science is showing and what many countries are doing. Masks may be the most important weapon in our war on the virus. But we’re not even using it.” –The Guardian

“If everybody [wears homemade masks], we’re protecting each other.”
–Dr. Anthony Fauci, U.S. director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases 

 Major Update: Netanyahu says all Israelis must wear face masks in public (April 1)

The #Masks4All movement was started as a grassroots movement in the Czech Republic. In a matter of 3 days, almost 100% of citizens were wearing homemade masks. And as you can see from the chart, it has been effective. (source)

The rise of #Masks4All led the Czech Republic government to make it mandatory for citizens to wear masks in public.

“Much of Central Europe is now following the example set by China, Taiwan and South Korea. On [March 30th], Austria mandated its citizens wear masks when outside the home, after the Czech, Slovak and Bosnian governments issued similar orders.”
–Wall Street Journal

“Wearing a simple cloth mask, decreases the spread of the virus by 80%! Czech Republic has made it OBLIGATORY for its citizens to wear a mask in public.”  –Prime Minister of the Czech Republic

Chart source.

Washington Post (the article that kicked this off the U.S.): Simple DIY masks could help flatten the curve. We should all wear them in public. 

Major Update! #Masks4All is Working: The U.S. CDC (Center for Disease Control) Now Recommends Americans Wear Face Masks (April 3)

New York Times: It’s Time to Make Your Own Face Mask 

Wired: It’s Time to Face Facts, America: Masks Work 

Medium: Homemade face masks could be the silver bullet for defeating COVID-19

Vox: The evidence for everyone wearing masks, explained 

ABC Good Morning America: Growing Debate Over Masks

National Review: A Lesson from Japan’s Fight against Coronavirus: Masks Help

Medscape: ‘Stealth Transmission’ of COVID-19 Demands Widespread Mask Usage

Time: Why Wearing a Face Mask Is Encouraged in Asia, but Shunned in the U.S. 

CNN: Should you wear a mask? US health officials re-examine guidance amid coronavirus crisis 

CNN: Asia may have been right about coronavirus and face masks, and the rest of the world is coming around

Fox News: The Government needs to stop lying to us about why we shouldn’t wear a mask

WFMZ: Senator Pat Toomey endorses “Masks4all” movement | Coronavirus Info 

“The study proves the importance of washing hands and wearing face masks in public places because the virus can linger in the air attached to fine droplet particles.”
–Study published in the peer reviewed Practical Preventative Medicine

“The median-fit factor of the homemade masks was one-half that of the surgical masks. Both masks significantly reduced the number of microorganisms expelled by volunteers, although the surgical mask was 3 times more effective in blocking transmission than the homemade mask.” –Cambridge University Study

“Implementing barriers to transmission, such as isolation, and hygienic measures (wearing masks, gloves and gowns) can be effective in containing respiratory virus epidemics.” –Study from the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 

“Currently available research supports the possibility that [coronavirus] could be spread via bioaerosols generated directly by patient exhalation. I’m not going to wear a surgical mask, because clinicians need those. But I have a nice western-style bandana I might wear. Or I have a balaclava. I have some pretty nice options.” –Dr. Harvey Fineberg, Chair of the National Academy of Sciences’ Standing Committee on Emerging Infectious Diseases and 21st Century Health Threats

“I think that wearing a mask is equally effective or more effective than distancing.”
–Professor David Heymann, World Health Organization (WHO) adviser

“Research shows that fluids spread when coughing/sneezing are a big transmitter of COVID-19. Each of us needs to do what we can to stop the spread. One easy thing we all can do, today, is wear homemade masks in public. My mask could help you, your mask could help me. #Masks4All“ -Senator Pat Toomey