How much does the mask protect against Covid ‑ 19 infections?

The use of a mask is the most effective - beyond vaccines - non-pharmacological measure of coronavirus protection, reducing by 53% the viral infections, according to a new international study, the most comprehensive of its kind to date, in which he participated and a Greek diaspora scientist.

In particular, researchers at the Universities of Edinburgh in Scotland and Alone in Melbourne, who published the study in the British Medical Journal (BMJ), according to the Guardian, evaluated (meta-analysis and systematic review) 35 scientific surveys from different countries. Professor of Epidemiology Europa Theodoratou from the University of Edinburgh, a graduate of the Department of Biology at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (2003) also participated in the study.

Coronavirus - Research: Protection from regular hand washing

Combining the data available so far, the new study concluded that of all the non-pharmacological interventions, the mask comparatively reduces the chance of someone being infected with coronavirus by 57%, compared to a 25% reduction in distance keeping, the RES reports. EIA. Therefore, the researchers stressed the need to continue using the mask in parallel with vaccinations.

The study showed that regular hand washing also seems to provide significant protection (53% reduction in the risk of infection), but due to the small number of relevant studies, the statistical reliability of this assessment was considered significantly lower than using a mask.