The idea of wearing a face mask through the long winter, as people wait for a COVID-19 vaccine, may not sound appealing. But as communities face record surges of COVID-19 cases, it’s crucial to wear your mask properly. It’s one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Research published in October in the journal Nature Medicine projected that universal mask wearing would save almost 130,000 lives between mid-September 2020 and the end of February 2021. In addition, researchers who evaluated the effects of mask mandates in 15 states and the District of Columbia estimated that 230,000 to 450,000 COVID cases were possibly avoided between April 8 and May 22 because people wore masks, according to a study in the journal Health Affairs.

source: healthmatters.nyp.org