It seems that donning a face mask is legitimately helpful in curbing the spread of the deadly coronavirus.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has published a report confirming evidence that mask mandates were indeed effective in slowing Covid-19 infections.
In order to examine the effectiveness of widespread mask wearing and enforcing masks, the CDC paid close attention to coronavirus infection rates in the US state of Kansas following heir statewide mask mandate law coming into effect.
They found that counties that chose to enforce the mandate saw their cases decrease, while those that chose to opt out saw their cases continue to rise.
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Looking at these results, Indiana University School of Medicine professor Dr. Aaron Carroll, who didn't work on the report, told NPR: "This adds to the growing body of evidence that says large, widespread masking helps to slow the spread of COVID."
Carroll was careful to add that because the study was not clinically controlled, there could be a number of other factors coming in to play that potentially could influence the result, including social distancing and reduced instances of large gatherings.
However, the study also notes that the findings were 'consistent with declines in coronavirus cases observed in 15 states and the District of Columbia where masks were mandated, compared with states that didn't require the face coverings'.
That being said, the data makes a compelling case that wearing a mask helps as a protective measure, even if other variables also played a part.
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Columbia University infectious disease researcher Jeffrey Shaman, who also didn't contribute to the report, told NPR: "You wear masks because the evidence suggests it not only protects you from acquiring the infection, but it protects others around you."
"You do it to protect your loved ones, to protect your neighbours. You do it for the good of the country."
Shaman added: "We're all exhausted by this virus. But the reality is the virus doesn't care. All it looks for is the opportunity to move from person to person."
So mask up, lads.
Featured Image Credit: PA