KYW Newsradio’s Medical Reports are sponsored by Independence Blue Cross.
By Dr. Brian McDonough, Medical Editor
PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Some people still question the effectiveness of wearing a mask to fight COVID-19. But look at the numbers.
In New York, for instance, the daily new infection rate dropped by 3% per day after a policy requiring that people wear face masks or coverings in public took effect.
Those who looked closely at the numbers found similar results in Italy, where infections were reduced by over 78,000 from April 6 to May 9, and over 66,000 in New York City from April 17 to May 9.
Face covering prevents both airborne transmissions by blocking atomization and inhalation of virus-bearing aerosols, and contact transmissions by blocking viral shedding of droplets.