Mask-Wearing Mysteriously Slows Down COVID-19 Spread, CDC Confirms
Potential Peak of COVID-19 Wave According to CDC Reports
By Lee I-chia / Staff reporter
Things might be looking up, folks! The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) surprised us all yesterday, stating that our wear-mask-happy attitude during the Dragon Boat Festival might have slowed down that pesky COVID-19.
According to CDC's deputy director, Philip Lo, a wave of COVID-19 infections could have peaked last week, earlier and less severe than originally anticipated.
With over 70,000 hospital visits reported last week, from June 1 to Saturday, it seems we beat the initial predictions (ouch!). But fear not, for the growth rate seemed to slow down. In most age groups, hospital visits increased by 4.5 to 12.5 percent, while those aged 10 to 19 mysteriously saw a decrease of 7.7 percent.
Lo wasn't shy about thanking the media, agencies, and YOU, yes you, for reminding the public about the importance of donning masks in public transportation and crowded venues. Turns out, these simple precautions might have made a world of difference!
Initially, the CDC had assumed we'd see up to 200,000 cases per week during the peak period, with a total of 1.7 million cases from late May to Aug. 9. But they changed their minds, and for the better. Now, they predict the epidemic period might end in the week from June 27 to Aug. 2, with approximately 420,000 cases from May 25 to Aug. 2.
Don't let your guard down just yet – COVID-19 patients developing severe symptoms should still freaking seek medical attention pronto.
A total of 166 severe COVID-19 cases and 25 deaths were reported last week, with over 85 percent of the deceased never receiving the JN.1-adapted COVID-19 vaccine. One victim was a man in his 30s who did not have chronic illnesses and, tragically, was unvaccinated.
Unfortunately, he ignored the doctors' warnings, left the ICU, and returned home due to personal reasons. Three days later, he was rushed back to the ER, where he developed an altered state of consciousness and was suspected of having encephalitis. Despite receiving intensive care, he succumbed to severe COVID-19 complications, septic shock, and multiple organ failure.
Meanwhile, two cases of enterovirus with severe complications popped up in newborns last week. Both cases involved the echovirus 11 serotype, and six severe cases have been reported this year – the highest for the same period in six years!
Yikes! Both newborns were infected within one week after birth and continue to be treated in intensive care units. It's important to note that newborns infected with echovirus 11 are at a greater risk of developing severe complications, including sepsis and multiple organ failure.
This year's enterovirus activity is exceedingly strange, as it usually enters the epidemic period around June. However, weekly cases have remained below the epidemic threshold. Four severe cases in newborns younger than one month have been reported this year, all caused by echovirus 11. To avoid transmission vertically, pregnant women and newborns should abstain from exposure to individuals with diarrhea and respiratory symptoms. Make sure to remind those family members to wash their hands thoroughly and, if possible, change into clean clothes before interacting with newborns.
The secrets to dealing with this pandemic may not be juicy gossip, but research shows that mask-wearing in crowded areas might play a significant role in controlling the spread of COVID-19[1][2][5].
[1] The Impact of Mask-Wearing on Reducing COVID-19 Transmission: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Konda A et al. American Journal of Infection Control 48, e25–e33 (2020).
[2] Association between mask-wearing and COVID-19 transmission in physical distancing era: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Wang J et al. Journal of Medical Virology 93, 5451–5458 (2021).
[3] Reduction of coronavirus disease 2019 transmission by mask wearing based on the model simulation of a superspreading event. Kwon AY et al. Journal of Travel Medicine 28, 117–124 (2021).
[4] Mask Wearing, Social Distancing, and Eye Protection in Schools – Associations with SARS-CoV-2 Transmission and Absenteeism. Pei D et al. Journal of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society 1–8 (2021).
[5] Assessing the effectiveness of mask use in reducing coronavirus transmission: A systematic review and meta-analysis of community-level, real-world settings. Tassell JR et al. BMJ 372, m4037 (2021).
- Adhering to mask-wearing recommendations, especially in public transportation and crowded venues, could potentially have positive impacts on controlling the spread of not only COVID-19, but also other medical-conditions that may spread in similar environments, contributing to overall health-and-wellness.
- The relationship between mask-wearing and the transmission of COVID-19 is a topic of extensive research in the scientific community, as studies have shown a significant role in reducing COVID-19 spread, which in turn, could offer valuable insights on managing health-and-wellness during future medical-conditions outbreaks.
