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    Face masks for the public during Covid-19: an appeal for caution in policy

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    Date
    2020-04-23
    Author
    Martin, Graham;
    Hanna, Esmée;
    Dingwall, Robert
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    Abstract
    As the Covid-19 crisis deepens, some researchers have argued for the widespread routine use of face masks in community settings, despite acknowledged gaps in the evidence base for the effectiveness of such a measure. We argue that such calls are premature, and risk neglecting important potential harms and negative consequences, known and unknown. We identify potential unintended consequences at multiple levels, from individual-behavioural to macrosocial, and suggest that it is far from clear that the benefits of widespread uptake of face masks, whether encouraged or enforced by public authorities, outweigh the downsides. Finally, we make the case for caution in communicating unequivocal messages about the scientific evidence for face mask use to policy, practitioner and public audiences, given continued scientific disagreement on the question
    Description
    Citation : Martin, G., Hanna, E. and Dingwall, R. (2020) Face masks for the public during Covid-19: an appeal for caution in policy
    URI
    https://dora.dmu.ac.uk/handle/2086/19526
    DOI
    https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.m1435
    Research Institute : Institute for Allied Health Sciences Research
    Peer Reviewed : No
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    • School of Allied Health Sciences [1415]

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