Don’t believe those who claim science proves masks don’t work | Lucky Tran

A new scientific review of the efficacy of masks is deeply flawed. That hasn't stopped some from touting it

Masks have played a key role in keeping us all safe throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. At the start, masks helped flatten the curve to protect our hospital systems, and since, masks have helped make public spaces and essential services more open and accessible to everyone. Many studies show that masks work, and they work best when everyone wears a high-quality one to protect each other. Masks are magnificent.

Yet, three years into the pandemic, we still see conflicting stories in the news about masks on a daily basis. The latest culprit powering the confounding headlines is a new scientific review published in Cochrane. The paper analyzes many different studies that assess how physical measures - including masks - fare against respiratory viruses.

Dr Lucky Tran is a scientist and public health communicator who works at Columbia University. During the pandemic, he has led several efforts to provide the latest information about Covid-19 to the public and policymakers, and advocate for more equitable and just public health policies. He holds a PhD in biochemistry from the University of Cambridge