Associations between mask-wearing, handwashing, and social distancing practices and risk of COVID-19 infection in public: a case-control study in Thailand

Doung-ngern, Pawinee; Suphanchaimat, Repeepong; Panjangampatthana, Apinya; Janekrongtham, Chawisar; Ruampoom, Duangrat; Daochaeng, Nawaporn; Eungkanit, Napatchakorn; Pisitpayat, Nichakul; Srisong, Nuengruethai; Yasopa, Oiythip; Plernprom, Patchanee; Promduangsi, Pitiphon; Kumphon, Panita; Suangtho, Paphanij; Watakulsin, Peeriya; Chaiya, Sarinya; Kripattanapong, Somkid; Chantian, Thanawadee; Namwat, Chawetsan; Limmathurotsakul, Direk

doi:10.1101/2020.06.11.20128900

Cited by 18 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…There has been a lot of public health messaging on face mask wearing and hand hygiene on Thai mass media channels and healthcare networks. A recent study among COVID-19 patients and their contacts in Thailand showed that wearing masks, washing hands and social distancing were strongly associated with lower risk of COVID-19 infections 18 . The evidence that mask wearing can help protect people from the infection has become more obvious, and this has resulted in updates of international guidelines related to mask wearing 19,20 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Perspectives on public health interventions in the management of the COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand

Pan-ngum¹,

Poomchaichote²,

Peerawaranun³

et al. 2020

Wellcome Open Res

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Background: Any government needs to react quickly to a pandemic and make decisions on healthcare interventions locally and internationally with little information regarding the perceptions of people and the reactions they may receive during the implementation of restrictions. Methods: We report an anonymous online survey in Thailand conducted in May 2020 to assess public perceptions of three interventions in the Thai context: isolation, quarantine and social distancing. A total of 1,020 participants, of whom 52% were women, responded to the survey. Results: Loss of income was the main concern among respondents (>80% for all provinces in Thailand). Traditional media and social media were important channels for communication during the pandemic. A total of 92% of respondents reported that they changed their social behaviour even before the implementation of government policy with 94% reporting they performed social distancing, 97% reported using personal protective equipment such as masks and 95% reported using sanitizer products. Conclusions: This study showed a high level of compliance from individuals with government enforced or voluntarily controls such as quarantine, isolation and social distancing in Thailand. The findings from this study can be used to inform future government measures to control the pandemic and to shape communication strategies.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Perspectives on public health interventions in the management of the COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand

Pan-ngum¹,

Poomchaichote²,

Peerawaranun³

et al. 2020

Wellcome Open Res

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show abstract

“…A total of 12 studies including meta-analysis, case control, cross sectional, cohort, retrospective, retrospective cross sectional, research, randomized controlled and controlled comparison studies conducted in China, United Kingdom, USA, Thailand, Uganda, Ethiopia, South Korea, Canada, and Iran were reviewed on the protective effect of masks on COVID-19 [39][40][41][42][43][44][45]. All patients had laboratory evidence of SARS-CoV-2.…”

Section: Sars-cov-2 and Masksmentioning

confidence: 99%

How efficient are facial masks against COVID-19? Evaluating the mask use of various communities one year into the pandemic

Ulu¹,

Üngör²,

Şenel³

et al. 2021

Turk J Med Sci

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Face masks are devices worn over the mouth and nose to protect against splashes, infectious respiratory droplets or aerosols generated during breathing or coughing according to their filtering capacity. Medical masks, respirators or cloth masks have been used for source control and for the protection of the exposed. After the first case on March 11, 2020, in Turkey, National COVID-19 Scientific Advisory Board published various contents for the correct use of masks. Medical face masks have been used in healthcare settings for both source control and potential personal protection before the COVID-19 pandemic. Adverse events associated with using masks are very sparse and mainly associated with tight-fitting respirators or dermatitis due to prolonged use and shouldn't be a reason for rejection for use. Studies suggest the use of masks mainly in the healthcare facilities but also in the community for source control of people who have respiratory symptoms of communicable diseases other than COVID-19. They are likely to be acceptable if recommended, particularly in more severe epidemics and pandemics. Metaanalysis, case control, cross sectional, cohort, retrospective, retrospective cross sectional, research, randomized controlled and controlled comparison studies were reviewed on the protective effect of masks on COVID-19 with laboratory evidence. Optimum use of face masks with additional precautions found useful controlling the spread of the respiratory viruses such as SARS-CoV-2 in most of the studies and meta-analyses.As a conclusion, the recent evidence in COVID-19 pandemic is consistent with the previous studies which have shown association between face mask use and decreased risk of viral infections, and medical face mask use should be encouraged both for the community and healthcare facilities along with other infection control measures such as hand hygiene, during outbreaks when there is widespread community transmission.

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“…Laboratory experiments have found that almost all types of masks can greatly reduce droplet emission and viral shedding by infectious wearers 8 , 9 , suggesting their effectiveness for source control. Two observational studies 10 , 11 and recent systematic reviews focusing on SARS-1, MERS and influenza 12 – 15 indicate that masks also substantially reduce infection risk to the non-infected wearer, even when their infectious contact is unmasked. Specifically, Chu et al 12 suggest that the use of a surgical or cotton mask could result in a reduction in infection risk of around 44% (95% CI 11–60%) in a community setting, with stronger associations in a healthcare setting (70% [59–78%]) and using an N95 respirator (96% [70–99.6%]).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Modelling the potential impact of mask use in schools and society on COVID-19 control in the UK

Panovska‐Griffiths

Kerr

Waites

et al. 2021

Sci Rep

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As the UK reopened after the first wave of the COVID-19 epidemic, crucial questions emerged around the role for ongoing interventions, including test-trace-isolate (TTI) strategies and mandatory masks. Here we assess the importance of masks in secondary schools by evaluating their impact over September 1–October 23, 2020. We show that, assuming TTI levels from August 2020 and no fundamental changes in the virus’s transmissibility, adoption of masks in secondary schools would have reduced the predicted size of a second wave, but preventing it would have required 68% or 46% of those with symptoms to seek testing (assuming masks’ effective coverage 15% or 30% respectively). With masks in community settings but not secondary schools, the required testing rates increase to 76% and 57%.

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Associations between mask-wearing, handwashing, and social distancing practices and risk of COVID-19 infection in public: a case-control study in Thailand

Cited by 18 publications

References 31 publications

Perspectives on public health interventions in the management of the COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand

Perspectives on public health interventions in the management of the COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand

How efficient are facial masks against COVID-19? Evaluating the mask use of various communities one year into the pandemic

Modelling the potential impact of mask use in schools and society on COVID-19 control in the UK

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