Face Mask Use and Physical Distancing before and after Mandatory Masking: Evidence from Public Waiting Lines

Seres, Gyula; Balleyer, Anna; Cerutti, Nicola; Friedrichsen, Jana; Süer, Müge

doi:10.2139/ssrn.3641367

Cited by 36 publications

(40 citation statements)

References 55 publications

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“…On the contrary, mask mandates may slightly increase social distancing in one out of the precaution categories (avoiding crowded areas) (p < 0.10). Consistent with this, [25] report that mask wear increased physical distancing in a randomized controlled trial in waiting lines outside German stores.…”

Section: Si Appendixsupporting

confidence: 56%

Face Masks, Public Policies and Slowing the Spread of COVID-19: Evidence from Canada

Karaivanov

Shigeoka

et al. 2020

Preprint

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We estimate the impact of indoor face mask mandates and other non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPI) on COVID-19 case growth in Canada. Mask mandate introduction was staggered over two months in the 34 public health regions in Ontario, Canada. Using this variation, we find that mask mandates are associated with a 25 percent or larger weekly reduction in new COVID-19 cases in July and August, relative to the trend in absence of mandate. Province-level data provide corroborating evidence. We control for factors such as mobility (using Google geo-location data) and past cases. Our analysis of additional survey data shows that mask mandates led to an increase of about 30 percentage points in self-reported mask wearing in public. Counterfactual policy simulations suggest that mandating indoor masks nationwide in early July could have reduced new COVID-19 cases in Canada by 25 to 40 percent in mid-August (700 to 1,100 fewer cases per week).

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Section: Si Appendixsupporting

confidence: 56%

Face Masks, Public Policies and Slowing the Spread of COVID-19: Evidence from Canada

Karaivanov

Shigeoka

et al. 2020

Preprint

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“…Three preprint papers reporting observational data suggests that masks may be a cue for others to keep a wider physical distance. (115)(116)(117)…”

Section: A Risk Compensation Behaviormentioning

confidence: 99%

Face Masks Against COVID-19: An Evidence Review

Howard¹,

Huang²,

Li³

et al. 2020

Preprint

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The science around the use of masks by the general public to impede COVID-19 transmission is advancing rapidly. Policymakers need guidance on how masks should be used by the general population to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. In this narrative review, we develop an analytical framework to examine mask usage, considering and synthesizing the relevant literature to inform multiple areas: population impact; transmission characteristics; source control; PPE; sociological considerations; and implementation considerations. A primary route of transmission of COVID-19 is via respiratory droplets, and is known to be transmissible from presymptomatic and asymptomatic individuals. Reducing disease spread requires two things: first, limit contacts of infected individuals via physical distancing and other measures, and second, reduce the transmission probability per contact. The preponderance of evidence indicates that mask wearing reduces the transmissibility per contact by reducing transmission of infected droplets in both laboratory and clinical contexts. Public mask wearing is most effective at reducing spread of the virus when compliance is high. The decreased transmissibility could substantially reduce the death toll and economic impact while the cost of the intervention is low. Given the current shortages of medical masks we recommend the adoption of public cloth mask wearing, as an effective form of source control, in conjunction with existing hygiene, distancing, and contact tracing strategies. Because many respiratory droplets become smaller due to evaporation, we recommend increasing focus on a previously overlooked aspect of mask usage: mask-wearing by infectious people ("source control") with benefits at the population-level, rather than mask-wearing by susceptible people, such as health-care workers, with focus on individual outcomes. We recommend that public officials and governments strongly encourage the use of widespread face masks in public, including the use of appropriate regulation.

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“…22 We report wild bootstrap p-values clustered at the PHU level to account for the small number of clusters. 23 The odd-numbered 22 Mask mandates and regulations on business and gatherings vary at the PHU level. Long-term care policy changed only province-wide.…”

Section: Mask Mandates In Ontario Public Health Regionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Face Masks, Public Policies and Slowing the Spread of COVID-19: Evidence from Canada

Karaivanov

Shigeoka

et al. 2020

SSRN Journal

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We estimate the impact of mask mandates and other non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPI) on COVID-19 case growth in Canada, including regulations on businesses and gatherings, school closures, travel and self-isolation, and long-term care homes. We partially account for behavioral responses using Google mobility data. Our identification approach exploits variation in the timing of indoor face mask mandates staggered over two months in the 34 public health regions in Ontario, Canada's most populous province. We find that, in the first few weeks after implementation, mask mandates are associated with a reduction of 25 percent in the weekly number of new COVID-19 cases. Additional analysis with province-level data provides corroborating evidence. Counterfactual policy simulations suggest that mandating indoor masks nationwide in early July could have reduced the weekly number of new cases in Canada by 25 to 40 percent in mid-August, which translates into 700 to 1,100 fewer cases per week.

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Face Mask Use and Physical Distancing before and after Mandatory Masking: Evidence from Public Waiting Lines

Cited by 36 publications

References 55 publications

Face Masks, Public Policies and Slowing the Spread of COVID-19: Evidence from Canada

Face Masks, Public Policies and Slowing the Spread of COVID-19: Evidence from Canada

Face Masks Against COVID-19: An Evidence Review

Face Masks, Public Policies and Slowing the Spread of COVID-19: Evidence from Canada

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