LA Times: Face mask trial didn’t stop coronavirus spread, but it shows why more mask-wearing is needed

Early on in the COVID-19 pandemic before masks were mandated, researchers in Denmark conducted a study to determine mask effectiveness. They gathered 6,000 participants and recommended some to wear masks and the others to be the control with no masks. The study did not find a strong indication that wearing masks prevented infection. However, researchers didn’t conclude that masks were ineffective. Instead, they believe it was that masks weren’t worn enough. The participants in the study were only recommended to wear masks, so not all participants consistently wore masks. Additionally, there were other measures in place like closed restaurants, limited public gatherings, and social distancing which may have caused masks to have less of an effect on virus spreading. Click here to read more about the COVID-19 pandemic. Click here to read the full article.