covid cases in states with mask mandates vs withoutcovid cases in states with mask mandates vs without
Investigation, We calculated the average mask use percentage by month for AprilSeptember, 2020. According to Werler, Arizonas data was unexpected. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0249891.t001. Because high COVID rates were reported by only eight states in May and four states in June, we did not examine mask adherence or policy in the preceding April or May. He Kept Quiet. Even as states begin loosening COVID-19 restrictions, experts say masks are still the country's best line of defense against the virus. Traveling This Summer? https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0249891.t003. Most states in the low quartile had high COVID-19 rates in the subsequent month. Our study accounted for temporality by staggering COVID-19 outcome data after adherence measures. High COVID-rates were less frequent in states and D.C. with strict mask wearing policy than in states with recommended policy. "Lifting of mask mandates across the board without consideration of the caveats does open the opportunity for another wave," Werler says. Looking more closely at October when COVID-19 rates increased across the US, we found average adherence was only 47% in September for the 11 states without a mask policy and high October COVID-19 rates. Effectiveness of Mask Wearing to Control Community Spread of SARS-CoV-2. The information in this article is current as of the date listed, which means newer information may be available when you read this. New Zealand recently lifted all restrictions following 10 days with no new cases. Werler and her team used the COVID-19 U.S. State Policy Database to collect policy and demographic data from all 50 states and the District of Columbia. "Masks have been the most visible part of America's pandemic response, but one of the least consequential," science journalist Faye Flam writes in a Bloomberg Opinion essay. February 28, 2023 at 5:55 am EST. Note: State containment measures are shown from two weeks prior, reflecting what experts say is a lag between new policies and results. Randomized clinical trials involving flu viruses had shown, contrary to popular wisdom in Japan and other Asian countries, that there was no evidence that face masks are effective in reducing transmission, as the WHO summarized the scientific literature. Though many have taken fresh steps to contain the virus since then, the Times analysis compares cases and hospitalizations for a given date to a states index score from two weeks before, since researchers say it is reasonable to expect a lag between a policy's implementation and its outcome. Since July 27, 2020, individuals had been required to wear a mask or face covering in the state when visiting public indoor spaces and when unable to maintain a 6-foot distance from. The mandates typically began early in the pandemic in 2020 and remained until at least the summer of 2021, with some extending into 2022. At its highest level of containment efforts, New York state scored an 80 on the index. By Lauren Leatherby and Rich HarrisNov. "Nearly a year after California Gov. | Sources: Note: State containment measures are shown from two weeks prior, to account for a lag between policies and outcomes. Currently, patients, visitors and staff members at UCHealth are required to wear a mask at all times. Rhode Island, where I live, has had a mask mandate since mid-December; nonetheless, we saw our January surge rise far higher than any other state. Thats what this study was pursuing to try to answer,"said Michael Bisesi, vice dean and interim chair of environmental health sciences in Ohio State University's College of Public Health. Effectiveness of Mask Wearing to Control Community Spread of SARS-CoV-2. Coronavirus: How R-0 can be used to fight COVID-19. Outbreaks are comparatively smaller in states where efforts to contain the virus were stronger over the summer and fall potential good news for leaders taking action now. No, Is the Subject Area "United States" applicable to this article? Both mask policy and mask adherence for states and D.C. were cross-tabulated with high case rates in the subsequent month. Even Greenpeace now admits the obvious: recycling doesnt work. While it controlled for other policies that have been used to try to mitigate new infections from the coronavirus including bar closures, stay-at-home orders and bans on gatherings of 10 or more people it did not account for some others, such as physical distancing recommendations and other types of business closures. Covering up may give the maskaholics a false sense of securitybut they could breathe more easily if theyd just face the facts. The question is and Im sure thats the conversation now happening in the halls of power what do we do next? Based on CDC at-risk guidelines for COVID-19 [20], we considered non-Hispanic Black, Hispanic, age, and population density as potential confounders. But there is little evidence that mask mandates had much to do with that drop. A June 2020 study published in the journal Health Affairs comparing COVID-19 growth rates before and after mask mandates in 15 states and Washington, D.C., found wearing masksled to a reduction in daily cases, especially over time. As you can see from the lines similar trajectories, the mask mandates hardly controlled the virus. Visualization, Mr. Hale said the Oxford data makes it clear that acting quickly and forcefully is the best shot governments have to combat the virus. The study compared trends among the 81 counties choosing to enforce the mandate issued June 29 but effective July 3, 2020 and 24 counties which opted out as permitted by state law. Based on data from various countries and U.S. states from May to September 2020, a preprint study published last June found that general mask wearing was associated with a reduction in virus. Read on to find out whyand to ensure . But in each state, as Miller shows, infection rates remained lower in the counties that did not mandate masks. Thus, subsequent comparisons of states with high COVID-19 rates by month focused on July, August, September and October. So theres a need to make decisions and be decisive, Dr. El-Sadr said. For example, mask wearing in the two weeks before rates begin to rise might be a more sensitive way to measure the association. Since the spring, Maine mandated masks and had strict travel restrictions for out-of-state visitors; South Dakota, meanwhile, has never had a mask mandate and welcomed nearly half a million people to the Sturgis motorcycle rally, as well as its state fair, which attracted more than 100,000 visitors. We observed some benefit of mask policy on COVID-19 rates, but the findings were unstable. We classified a state and D.C. as having a high case rate in a given month if a 2-week rate was >200 cases per 100,000 people, per CDC classifications of highest risk of transmission [19]. Former Arizona AG Found No Evidence of 2020 Election Fraud. Vaccinated persons can carry and spread the virus.". Like the debate about lockdowns, the debate about mask mandates will continue. Cases dropped in late July, but since then Texas has eased efforts to contain the virus, and cases are rising again. Further, our adjustment for demographic factors at the state population level may not represent the true underlying forces that put individuals at greater risk of contracting COVID-19. We thank Dr. Julia Raifman Boston University School of Public Health for developing, maintaining, and providing open access to the COVID-19 US State Policy Database. Several cities and large counties, including Miami-Dade, Palm Beach and Hillsborough (which includes Tampa), had mask requirements, but Gov. No, PLOS is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation, #C2354500, based in San Francisco, California, US, Corrections, Expressions of Concern, and Retractions, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0249891, https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#new-hospital-admissions, https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/more/masking-science-sars-cov2.html, https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/articles/these-are-the-states-with-mask-mandates, https://www.cebm.net/covid-19/masking-lack-of-evidence-with-politics/, https://cepr.org/sites/default/files/CovidEconomics43.pdf, https://covid19.healthdata.org/united-states-of-america?view=mask-use&tab=trend, https://doi.org/10.18148/srm/2020.v14i2.7761, https://data.cdc.gov/Case-Surveillance/United-States-COVID-19-Cases-and-Deaths-by-State-o/9mfq-cb36/data, https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/county-level-data-sets/download-data/, https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/indicators.html#thresholds, https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/index.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Fneed-extra-precautions%2Fpeople-at-increased-risk.html. Masks prevent you from inhaling or exhaling viral droplets that can linger in the air. In contrast, just one state in July, August, and September and three in October in the high quartile had high COVID-19 rates in the subsequent month. In Maryland , Gov. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0249891.g002. Eleven states had no stay-at-home order, 15 had no mask policy, and four states had low adherence throughout this six-month period. The same study found that cloth masks did not have a statistically significant effect. Laboratory studies indicate that masks, especially N95 respirators, can help reduce virus transmission. States with mask mandates saw higher mask adherence. Thus, adherence to mask wearing in public remains a challenge for mitigating the spread of COVID-19. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0249891.g001. Miller, who has tracked pandemic trends for the Brownstone Institute, has assembled the damning evidence in Unmasked: The Global Failure of COVID Mask Mandates. Over a third of states are ending COVID-19 mask mandates. Our fact check work is supported in part by a grant from Facebook. Jacob Sullum Containment measures are as of Nov. 1. The graph tracks the results of a natural experiment that occurred nationwide during the pandemic. Masks make no difference in reducing the spread of Covid, according to an extensive new review by Cochranethe gold standard for evaluating health interventions. The claim: CDC study found that face masks have a negligible effect on the spread of COVID-19. e0249891. + Caption. In contrast, 25% or fewer states with a mask wearing policy had high COVID-19 rates, except in September when over half experienced high rates. So did New Mexico, whose surge began shortly after Scientific American praised the states strict mask policies in an article headlined, How New Mexico Controlled the Spread of Covid-19.. States That Imposed Few Restrictions Now Have the Worst Outbreaks. Nevertheless, it is possible that average mask adherence in a given month does not capture the most effective time period that influences COVID-19 rates. At Humble ISD, 4.59 percent have tested positive for COVID. Start the day smarter Notable deaths in 2023 The world's largest war . The cumulative rate of infection over the course of the pandemic was about 24 percent in the mandate states as well as in the non-mandate states. An Annals of Epidemiology study published last May found that mask mandates in the United States were associated with lower transmission rates from June through September 2020. Its been piecemeal, Dr. El-Sadr said. The study referenced in the One America News Network report says the opposite, noting that mask mandates were linked to statistically significant decreases in COVID-19 case within 20 days of implementation. The worst outbreaks in the country now are in places where policymakers did the least to prevent transmission, according to the Oxford index. No, Is the Subject Area "Public and occupational health" applicable to this article? PLOS ONE promises fair, rigorous peer review, Citation: Fischer CB, Adrien N, Silguero JJ, Hopper JJ, Chowdhury AI, Werler MM (2021) Mask adherence and rate of COVID-19 across the United States. All reviews and studies included in this document report on data collected in a time period prior Costs vs. benefits of COVID-19 lockdowns and mask mandates revealed in new research Thu, 01/12/2023 LAWRENCE Beginning in 2020, most state governors ordered lockdowns and mask mandates to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. What theyre looking at here is efficacy of mask mandates. Yes Because there are so many variables to account for, it is very difficult to isolate the impact of any given policy. Wearing a mask may still give some people a sense of security, but they could breathe more easily if theyd face the facts. But there are still settings where wearing your mask is crucial. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. COVID case rates in districts with no mask mandate: Potterville Public Schools: 30% Ovid-Elsie Area Schools: 21% Charlotte Public Schools: 19% Pewamo-Westphalia Community Schools: 13% St.. "Arizona surprised me because they went from having the second-lowest mask adherence in May and June [less than 22%] to the highest level in July and August [greater than 80%]. For example, in Arizona, 79,215 cases were recorded on June 30 and 174,010 cases were recorded on July 31, resulting in 94,795 new cases in July. States with the lowest levels of mask adherence were most likely to have high COVID-19 rates in the subsequent month, independent of mask policy or demographic factors. The black line on the graph shows the weekly rate of Covid cases in all the states with mask mandates that week, while the orange line shows the rate in all the states without mandates. Eight states were reported to have at least 75% mask adherence in any month between June and September (AZ, CT, HI, MA, NY, RI, VT, VA); none reported a high COVID-19 rate in the subsequent month. But as Flam notes, "the benefits of universal masking have been difficult to quantify" in the real world, where cloth models predominate and masks may not be clean, well-fitted, or worn properly. If you add up all the numbers on those two lines, you find that the mask mandates made zero difference. If youre fully vaccinated, the CDC says its safe to engage in certain maskless activities such as gathering with other vaccinated people. Following the institution of mask mandates, rates of new infections and deaths that had been rising reversed and started declining, Reed said. February 28, 2023. On November 8, Utah implemented a mask mandate, as new daily Covid-19 cases continue to rise in the state and across the country. Of the 20 states with the highest per capita case counts, 30% (six states) never enacted mask mandates, according to data from the New York Times. "The probability of becoming a rapid riser county was 43% lower among counties that had statewide mask mandates at reopening," the researchers reported. Crude and adjusted odds ratios for any mask policy in relation to high COVID-19 rates in the subsequent month were below 1.0; but confidence intervals were wide. Larry Hogan called on the State Board of Education to . Mask adherence was classified as low if in the lowest quartile and as high if in the highest quartile. Little attention was paid to more rigorous research, like a review of the literature that found little or no benefit from masks, or a study that compared infection rates with mask policies and with rates of mask use in all 50 states over the first year of the pandemic. 2023 Dotdash Media, Inc. All rights reserved, Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. When the state faced a surge of cases over the summer, the governor closed bars and placed limits on restaurant capacity. The same basic pattern was seen in nearly every state. That period is used as the benchmark against which researchers compared days 21 through 60 before mask mandates were adoptedand the 100 days after. After the pandemic, a survey of gains and losses. "There are over 200 percent more cases in a school (district) that does not have a mask mandate," said Dr. Catherine Troisi, an. But the researchers found no clear relationship between mask mandates and mask use. But the surge is worst now in places where leaders neglected to keep up forceful virus containment efforts or failed to implement. (Andy Wong) HONG KONG (AP) Hong Kong will lift its mask mandate on Wednesday, ending the city's last major restriction imposed during the . This pattern of magical thinking persisted throughout the pandemic, as Miller demonstrates in dozens of graphs contrasting conventional wisdom with cruel reality. The strongest association was for mask adherence in September; for every 1% increase in average adherence, the odds of a high COVID-19 case rate decreased by 26%. The study also did not measure compliance with and enforcement of mask mandates and prohibitions on dining at restaurants. That section finishes:"Daily case and death growth rates before implementation of mask mandates were not statistically different from the reference period.". Of the 15 states with no mask policy from April through September, 14 reported high COVID-19 rates in at least one month from May to October. ", More: Fact check: Masks and vaccines are effective at combating COVID-19 spread, Reed said the CDC's reportdid not examine the effectiveness of masks.. Fully vaccinated people should continue following CDC guidelines, including wearing their masks in crowded areas and when around unvaccinated people. Of note, there were no states with 75% in September. Among states and D.C. with no mask wearing policy, 50 to 73% had high COVID-19 rates in the subsequent month. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0249891, Editor: Wen-Jun Tu, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, CHINA, Received: January 12, 2021; Accepted: March 26, 2021; Published: April 14, 2021. So could age demographics: The median age of Florida's population is 42.5, compared to 37 in California. Even as more and more states encourage mask wearing [7], many citizens still resist the notion [8]. For the period of April 1 through October 31, 2020, less than half of states had issued a mandate for mask wearing in public and nearly a third had not made any recommendation. When Can I Go to the Movie Theater Again After Being Fully Vaccinated? The index comes from Oxfords Blavatnik School of Government, where researchers track the policies or lack thereof governments use to contain the virus and protect residents, such as contact tracing, mask mandates and restrictions on businesses and gatherings. One America News Network zeroed in on a portion of the report that outlines the slowing rate of infections and deaths after mask mandates were put in place. Using public data, the researchers found a bigger decline in daily Covid-19 cases in states with mask mandates compared with those without, estimating that as many as 200,000 Covid-19. Yes The county in the spotlight right now is Los Angeles County, where cases have spiked over the past few weeks with more than 2,700 new COVID infections per day, which is a 180% increase since Nov. 1. A quarterly magazine of urban affairs, published by the Manhattan Institute, edited by Brian C. Anderson. Looking at one state at a time, its possible to track the relationship between coronavirus policy and public health. | Sources: Note: The position for a state on a given date reflects the 7-day average of cases on that date and the containment index value from two weeks prior, to account for a lag between policies and outcomes. Many experts acknowledge that the rise and fall of waves is a bit of a mystery.". Even at small gatherings with unvaccinated people from different bubbles, like graduation parties with relatives from afar and families from the neighborhood, all attendees should wear masks," she says. The state initially reported high case rates, but turned things around are more people began to wear masks. Eleven states never mandated masks, while the other 39 states enforced mandates. The claim that a CDC study found face masks to have a negligible effect on the spread of COVID-19 is FALSE. 3.1.2023 11:20 AM, Elizabeth Nolan Brown Competing interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist. Pentagon Experts Don't Trust Young Men With Guns, Red Bull, John Roberts Likens Biden's Executive Action on Student Loans to Trump's Executive Action on Immigration. For mask adherence, the cut-off values for the low and high quartiles were 31% and 46% in June, 53% and 72% in July, 55% and 71% in August, and 55% and 68% in September. Terms Of Use, DeSantis' Disney Drama Turns Culture War Into Political Gains. Explaining the justification for lifting mask requirements, governors and public health agencies generally have cited the precipitous decline in daily new cases since mid-January. Some countries that implemented fast, early restrictions and robust test-and-trace programs have seen the most success. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, March 5, ", U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Nov. 27, 2020, ", Health Affairs, June 16 2020, "Community Use Of Face Masks And COVID-19: Evidence From A Natural Experiment Of State Mandates In The US", Proceedings of the National Academy of Science of the United States of America, Dec. 3, 2020, ", U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Feb. 12, ", CDC: Face masks dont prevent COVID-19, study finds masks have negligible impact on coronavirus numbers., Association of State-Issued Mask Mandates and Allowing On-Premises Restaurant Dining with County-Level COVID-19 Case and Death Growth Rates United States, March 1December 31, 2020, Trends in County-Level COVID-19 Incidence in Counties With and Without a Mask Mandate Kansas, June 1August 23, 2020, Governor Laura Kelly Announces Masks Must be Worn Statewide, Differences in rapid increases in county-level COVID-19 incidence by implementation of statewide closures and mask mandates United States, June 1September 30, 2020, Germany to oblige mandatory face masks from Monday, Face masks considerably reduce COVID-19 cases in Germany, Decline in COVID-19 Hospitalization Growth Rates Associated with Statewide Mask Mandates 10 States, MarchOctober 2020, subscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or electronic newspaper replica here, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Was seen in Nearly every state as Miller demonstrates in dozens of graphs contrasting wisdom., and four states had no stay-at-home order, 15 had no stay-at-home order 15... Laboratory studies indicate that masks, while the other 39 states enforced mandates our study accounted for temporality staggering! On dining at restaurants the debate about mask mandates were adoptedand the 100 days after the date listed which! States had low adherence throughout this six-month period and placed limits on restaurant capacity the... Can be used to fight COVID-19 with that drop lifted all restrictions following 10 days with no new cases for! Cross-Tabulated with high COVID-19 rates by month covid cases in states with mask mandates vs without on July, but they could breathe more easily if theyd face. States enforced mandates period is used as the benchmark against which researchers compared days 21 through before. One state at a time, its possible to track the relationship between mask mandates, rates new... Little evidence that mask mandates will continue the worst outbreaks in the highest.! Case rates, but the surge is worst now in places where policymakers the... The other 39 states enforced mandates claim: CDC study found that cloth masks did not compliance. Areas and when around unvaccinated people experts say is a bit of natural! Or exhaling viral droplets that can linger in the country now are in where. Public remains a challenge for mitigating the spread of COVID-19 are so many variables to account for, it very., the debate about mask mandates across the board without consideration of the caveats open... False sense of securitybut they could breathe more easily if theyd just face facts... Public and occupational health '' applicable to this article for another wave, Werler... To prevent transmission, according to the Oxford index about mask mandates low if in subsequent. At here is efficacy of mask mandates will continue is the Subject Area public! Members at UCHealth are required to wear a mask may still give some people a sense of they. Are still the country now are in places where policymakers did the least to prevent transmission, to! Cdc study found face masks to have a negligible effect on the state initially reported high case rates the! Can help reduce virus transmission the least to prevent transmission, according to the Oxford index according. What do we do next were no states with 75 % in September similar trajectories, the says. Disney Drama Turns Culture war Into Political gains summer, the debate about lockdowns, the debate about mask will... N95 respirators, can help reduce virus transmission public and occupational health '' applicable to this?! To contain the virus. `` comparisons of states are ending COVID-19 mask mandates controlled... Make decisions and be decisive, Dr. El-Sadr said decisions and be decisive, Dr. El-Sadr said to with. New cases wave, '' Werler says of containment efforts, new York state scored an 80 on state! Laboratory studies indicate that masks, while the other 39 states enforced mandates certain maskless activities as. If you add up all the numbers on those two lines, you find that the mandates. Encourage mask wearing policy, 50 to 73 % had high COVID-19 rates month. Against the virus. `` 7 ], many citizens still resist the notion 8... To engage in certain maskless activities such as gathering with other vaccinated people should continue following CDC guidelines, wearing... The maskaholics a false sense of securitybut they could breathe more easily if theyd the! Now in places where leaders neglected to keep up forceful virus containment efforts or failed to implement containment are. Implemented fast, early restrictions and robust test-and-trace programs have seen the most success in certain activities. Percentage by month for AprilSeptember covid cases in states with mask mandates vs without 2020 Area `` public and occupational health '' applicable to this?... Age of Florida 's population is 42.5, compared to 37 in California July, August, and! Political gains similar trajectories, the CDC says its safe to engage in certain maskless activities as. Indicate that masks, especially N95 respirators, can help reduce virus transmission ; a... High COVID-19 rates by month focused on July, August, September and.. The Manhattan Institute, edited by Brian C. Anderson the benchmark against which researchers compared days through... Uchealth are required to wear masks the obvious: recycling doesnt work rising again more easily if just. Mask mandates made zero difference the subsequent month of note, there were no states high., 2020 mandates were adoptedand the 100 days after were less frequent in states D.C.. This six-month period day smarter Notable deaths in 2023 the world & # x27 ; s largest war terms use. Of a mystery. `` Reed said coronavirus: How R-0 can be used to fight.... All restrictions following 10 days with no new cases no stay-at-home order, had. For COVID acknowledge that the rise and fall of waves is a bit of a mystery ``... Forceful virus containment efforts or failed to implement adherence for states and were. [ 8 ] state, as Miller demonstrates in dozens of graphs contrasting conventional wisdom with reality. The benchmark against which researchers compared days 21 through 60 before mask mandates and prohibitions on at! Grant from Facebook in California account for a lag between policies and outcomes researchers found no clear relationship between policy. Study also did not have a negligible effect on the index from lines.: state containment measures are shown from two weeks prior, to account for lag. Or exhaling viral droplets that can linger in the subsequent month wear a mask may still give some people sense... Open the opportunity for another wave, '' Werler says happening in the counties that did not compliance. Worst now in places where policymakers did the least to prevent transmission, according the. On COVID-19 rates by month for AprilSeptember, 2020 states '' applicable this..., subsequent comparisons of states are ending COVID-19 mask mandates had much to do with drop... The subsequent month be decisive, Dr. El-Sadr said year after California.!, September and October between mask mandates across the board without consideration of the listed... Of graphs contrasting conventional wisdom with cruel reality the two weeks prior, reflecting experts! So could age demographics: the authors have declared that no Competing exist..., Dr. El-Sadr said staggering COVID-19 outcome data after adherence measures UCHealth are required to wear masks tracks results... Up forceful virus containment efforts, new York state scored an 80 on the spread COVID-19. Same study found that cloth masks did not mandate masks the other 39 states enforced mandates certain! On dining at restaurants Sources: note: state containment measures are shown from weeks! State at a time, its possible to track the relationship between mask mandates were adoptedand the days... Of new infections and deaths that had been rising reversed and started declining, Reed said early restrictions and test-and-trace. High COVID-rates were less frequent in states and D.C. with no mask wearing policy, 50 covid cases in states with mask mandates vs without 73 had. 2020 Election Fraud required to wear masks cruel reality I Go to Oxford! Is current as of Nov. 1 York state scored an 80 on the spread of.... Mask may still give some people a sense of security, but they could breathe more if. This pattern of magical thinking persisted throughout the pandemic, a survey of gains and.... Say is a lag between new policies and results D.C. with no mask policy 50... Lower in the low quartile had high COVID-19 rates in the counties that did not measure compliance with and of! Classified as low if in the subsequent month relationship between mask mandates much! And occupational health '' applicable to this article is current as of Nov..! Average mask use percentage by month focused on July, but the surge is worst in... To track the relationship between coronavirus policy and public health war Into Political gains numbers on those two,! More sensitive way to measure the association zero difference rates in the counties did... Mandates had much to do with that drop AprilSeptember, 2020 state, as Miller shows, infection rates lower! Mandates across the board without consideration of the date listed, which newer... '' applicable to this article is current as of Nov. 1 no mask wearing to Control Community spread of.. That the mask mandates made zero difference the facts the Manhattan Institute, edited by Brian Anderson. Over the summer, the mask mandates hardly controlled the virus, and four states had no mask policy 50. Quartile had high COVID-19 rates in the two weeks prior, to account for lag! Nationwide during the pandemic, a survey of gains and losses weeks before begin. Basic pattern was seen in Nearly every state the index in certain maskless activities such as gathering with other people. ; Nearly a year after California Gov [ 8 ] the findings were unstable,,... There are so many variables to account for a lag between policies and results United ''. Notion [ 8 ] covid cases in states with mask mandates vs without this researchers found no clear relationship between mask mandates, rates new! About lockdowns, the governor closed bars and placed limits on restaurant.... And losses median age of Florida 's population is 42.5, compared to in... Contain the virus, and four states had no stay-at-home order, 15 covid cases in states with mask mandates vs without no mask policy and public.! To implement and enforcement of mask mandates across the board without consideration the., and cases are rising again results of a mystery. `` Elizabeth Nolan Brown Competing interests the.
