\n “Masks, depending on [the] type, filter out the majority of viral particles, but not all,” the researchers stated in the published report. (iStock)
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The study authors\u00a0credit face masks for contributing to lower death rates and more mild cases with the more recent wave of COVID-19 infections, along with better treatments, more testing, and younger patients, according to the press release. However, more data is needed to track cases geographically and correlate the severity with mask-wearing.<\/p>\n

Severe illness rates are lower in countries such as Singapore, Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, and South Korea where the wearing of face masks was\u00a0already socially acceptable, according to the release.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re also saying that masks, which filter out a majority of viral particles, can lead to less severe infection if you do get one,\u201d Gandhi stated in the press release. \u201cIf you get infected, but have no symptoms \u2013 that\u2019s the best way you can ever get a virus.\u201d<\/p>\n

The release noted a hamster study where a surgical mask separated cages of hamsters with COVID-19 and uninfected hamsters. The mask was found to decrease transmission of coronavirus, while the hamsters that had\u00a0contracted SARS-CoV-2 developed milder symptoms, according to the report. <\/p>\n

Gandhi said viral dose could be another factor regarding the prognosis of the virus based on two outbreaks of coronavirus on cruise ships, according to the release. The first outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 on the Diamond Princess outside of China 18%\u00a0of the 634 passengers positive for COVID-19 were asymptomatic. In the other case, in March onboard an Argentinian cruise ship, 81% of the 128 people who tested positive were asymptomatic, according to the news release.<\/p>\n

The major difference, according to Gandhi, was\u00a0that passengers on the Argentinian ship were given surgical masks and staff N95 masks as soon as a passenger was detected to have COVID-19.<\/p>\n