People who reported always wearing face masks or respirators, such as N95 masks, in public indoor settings were significantly less likely to later test positive for the coronavirus than people who said they never wore masks in such places, researchers at the California Department of Public Health reported Friday.
The study, a phone survey conducted before omicron became the dominant variant in the United States, also suggested that surgical masks and N95 or KN95 respirators provided better protection than cloth masks.
The findings provide more evidence that wearing high-quality, well-fitting masks can help protect the wearer from infection with the virus. They come at a time when many school districts and local officials have begun considering whether and when to lift mask mandates.
