Masks and Covid-19: In the US, a patchwork of policies persistMasks have become a common sight in the United States and across the world since springWASHINGTON - As the United States' Covid-19 infection rate hits an all-time high, calls are growing for a nationwide mask mandate to replace the current patchwork of state regulations. In the other 17, it's been left to local jurisdictions, like cities, towns and counties to decide for themselves. The problem with this method, which was also used in Texas and Oklahoma, is that it does not take into account the other behavior measures that often accompany mask orders, such as bar closures. But when the infection rate is soaring as high as it is, even a small fraction of people who don't mask are enough to sustain the spread. One of Trump's new coronavirus advisors, Scott Atlas -- whose expertise is heavily disputed by the scientific and public health community -- recently tweeted: "Masks work?

Source: Bangkok Post October 28, 2020 20:03 UTC