Study finds mask wearing likely makes 'little or no difference' regarding flu transmission

UNITED KINGDOM (TND) — Research from a group of international doctors analyzed nearly 80 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and found that "physical interventions" to prevent respiratory transmission, such as masks, likely made "little or no difference."

After analyzing these RCTs, the group of researchers also found wearing specialized N95 masks or respirators, compared to wearing typical surgical masks, "probably makes little to no difference" in relation to flu transmission.

We identified 78 relevant studies," the research said. "They took place in low, middle, and high-income countries worldwide: in hospitals, schools, homes, offices, childcare centres, and communities during nonepidemic influenza periods, the global H1N1 influenza pandemic in 2009, epidemic influenza seasons up to 2016, and during the COVID19 pandemic."

Our confidence in these results is generally low to moderate for the subjective outcomes related to respiratory illness, but moderate for the more precisely defined laboratory-confirmed respiratory virus infection, related to masks and N95/P2 respirators," the research continued "The results might change when further evidence becomes available."

The study was conducted by the peer-reviewed Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, which is run by Cochrane, an international, independent network of researchers, professionals, patients, and others interested in health.

Titled "Physical interventions to interrupt or reduce the spread of respiratory viruses," the study was completed by several doctoral researchers from Canada, the U.K., Australia and Saudi Arabia.

RCTs are considered the most scientifically rigorous methods of hypothesis testing available. But the study did concede many were "conducted during nonepidemic influenza periods."

Therefore, many studies were conducted in the context of lower respiratory viral circulation and transmission compared to COVID-19," the study pointed out.

However, multiple RCTs analyzed were conducted to evaluate physical interventions related to influenza transmission in concurrence with COVID-19, including some specifically looking at mask effectiveness. Additionally, several others were conducted during the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic, as well as some during what were considered epidemic influenza seasons.

In addition to masks, the study also analyzed the effectiveness of hand washing as an intervention to halt viral transmission. Some results showed hand washing "may" reduce the number of people who get infected, but other results included in the overall RCT analysis could not confirm a statistically significant difference in transmission between when rigorous hand hygiene was adhered to and when it was not.

The Biden administration distributed hundreds of millions of N95 masks amid the pandemic, totaling almost half a billion dollars, according to CNN.

The move to supply so much personal protective equipment during the COVID pandemic made it a ripe situation for abuse.

According to investigative reporting nonprofit ProPublica, an estimated $100 million in taxpayer dollars were lost to scammers who seized on the opportunity.

The federal government continues to recommend masks in areas designated "high" risk, and indoor masking in "medium" risk settings. Earlier this year, state and local officials began temporarily reinstituting mask mandates and recommendations again for indoor settings, such as work and school, in states like California, New York and Massachusetts.