Scientific research
COVID-19 transmission despite universal masking in Hong Kong
A study by HKU SPH researchers using detailed line lists provided by the Hong Kong Department of Health have found that COVID-19 transmission still occurred despite near-universal usage of masks in public areas and in the workplace. The study, published in the Journal of Infection, found that among the cases with information on transmission setting, approximately 78% of transmission occurred in household and social settings where face masks are usually not worn. Infections that occurred in settings where masks are usually worn were also more likely to be asymptomatic. Taken together, these findings may suggest that while universal mask-wearing can reduce transmission of COVID-19 in the community, the measure alone would not be enough to stop COVID-19 transmission as transmission can still occur in settings where masks are not usually worn.
Read more about this paper here:
DOI: 10.1016/j.jinf.2021.04.019
# control and mitigation measures
Back