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• Should we wear face masks after the pandemic?

Peer reviewed byDr Sarah Jarvis MBE, FRCGPAuthored by Lydia SmithOriginally published 4 Nov 2021

Meets Patient’seditorial guidelinesEst.4 min reading time

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Wearing face masks has been a crucial part of the strategy to contain COVID-19, alongside the vaccination programme and social distancing. However, fewer people have been wearing face coverings in public since restrictions were eased in the UK over the summer. But should we continue wearing them to prevent the spread of diseases in the future, even after the pandemic?

In this article:

Why wearing a face mask is important to stop the spread of COVID-19

Wearing face masks can provide both personal protection againstCOVID-19 and is also a public health measure to prevent the spread of the disease to others, particularly vulnerable people.

"Amask of appropriate quality like N95, KN95 and in some instances cloth can help reduce risk and offer protection in a respiratory agent pandemic, such asflu orSARS," says Rodney E. Rohde, a professor of clinical laboratory science and an infectious disease specialist at Texas State University.

"They can offer people protection - especially in high-risk environments - from not only respiratory pathogens but also from seasonalallergies. It is especially a positive if someone is an immunocompromised individual," he adds. "The global health community must do a better job of communicating the reasons formasks to build confidence."

With cases ofCOVID-19 rising alongside the flu and colds, some experts have suggested it might be prudent to reinforce mandatory mask-wearing in busy indoor areas. But should we continue wearing masks even after thepandemic has ended?

"In my professional and personal opinion, I think this will be an individual choice unless a public health emergency requires a mandate," says Rohde. "However, I do plan to continue to wear amask after the pandemic. For context, I plan to wear a mask in high-risk environments. For example, when I travel by airline, train or bus."

Rohde says he will also wear a mask in crowded areas in which thevaccination status or health of others is unknown. "For example, large ceremonies in crowded, poorly-ventilated areas such as concerts, meetings and conferences," he says.

"Research and personal information continue to show the value of risk reduction a mask can offer from respiratory pathogens as well asallergens."

While it might not make sense to wear a mask 24/7 onceCOVID-19 is contained, masking is easy and may be justifiable in risky settings. It may be logical duringcold andflu season, too. Ultimately, each person who chooses to wear a mask would be doing a little something extra to keep themselves and those around them healthy in a post-COVID future.

Face masks can help curb the spread ofCOVID-19 because the virus that causes the disease is primarily transmitted in the air. This means that people with the virus - especially those who may be asymptomatic and unaware that they have it - spread it through respiratory droplets that are exhaled when theycough, sneeze or talk. These droplets are then inhaled by somebody else.

In addition, COVID-19 infection can be spread through much smaller particles which we breathe out - so-called aerosol spread. Because these particles are so small and light, they remainsuspended in the air, building up in the air surrounding an infected person if ventilation is inadequate.

Multiplestudies have shown face masks help to block these droplets and particles from escaping into the air. Anotherstudy of people who had flu or the commoncold found that wearing a surgicalmask significantly reduced the amount of these respiratory viruses emitted in droplets and aerosols.

Epidemiological data also suggest face masks can help curb the spread of disease. Last year, USresearchers compared the COVID-19 growth rate before and after mask mandates in 15 states and the District of Columbia. It found that mask mandates led to a slowdown in daily COVID-19 growth rate, which became more apparent over time.

It's important to remember that cloth face coverings offermuch less protection to the wearer than personal protective equipment (PPE) alternatives such as FFP3 respirators. However, they appear to play a significantly greater role in reducing the risk to others nearby. To a large extent, where cloth masks are concerned, the mantra of 'mine protects you, yours protects me' applies.

In countries like China, Singapore and Taiwan, mask-wearing was already common before coronavirus. After the outbreak ofsevere acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in 2002, masks became increasingly popular to prevent infection.

In western countries including the UK, however, mask-wearing is a new phenomenon. While some see it as an important means to halt the virus's spread and a sign of social consideration, others have politicised masks - claiming they infringe on individual rights.

Therefore, widespread mask-wearing may be unlikely in the future. While masks can reduce the transmission ofCOVID-19, there are some downsides. For some, masks can be uncomfortable and cause communication problems for those who use lip reading. However, mask-wearing is just one form of protection, alongside being vaccinated, staying home when unwell andsocial distancing.

"I try to educate others that a mask is mostly about risk reduction. It is not 100% protective, but neither is wearing a seat belt," says Rohde. "It is about lowering the risk to respiratory pathogens. We still will needvaccines and other healthcare and public health mitigation measures to protect ourselves and each other."

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• 4 Nov 2021| Originally published

  Authored by:

  Lydia Smith

  Peer reviewed by

  Dr Sarah Jarvis MBE, FRCGP