The Time for Universal Masking of the Public for Coronavirus Disease 2019 Is Now
Monica Gandhi, Diane V. Havlir
Abstract
In this perspective, we recommend universal masking of the US public during coronavirus disease 2019 due to the high contagiousness of severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), viral shedding of viable SARS-CoV-2 from asymptomatic individuals, and the likely contribution of masking to core distancing public health strategies for curbing transmission.
Topics & Concepts
Masking (illustration)MedicineCoronavirusCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)AsymptomaticSevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)Public healthTransmission (telecommunications)2019-20 coronavirus outbreakDiseaseVirologyPandemicSocial distanceViral sheddingOutbreakVirusInfectious disease (medical specialty)Internal medicineComputer scienceTelecommunicationsPathologyVisual artsArtInfection Control and VentilationCOVID-19 and healthcare impactsCOVID-19 epidemiological studies