masks

The CDC has given the OK to lift indoor mask mandates in much of the US, and a growing number of states no longer require face coverings in schools. But most experts agree that masks slow school spread of SARS-CoV-2, and whether now is the right time to allow teachers and students to unmask is a matter of debate.

Evidence suggests that COVID-19 is primarily an airborne disease. Yet the details of how transmission occurs are still debated and frequently misunderstood.

The CDC now suggests that only children who were within 3 feet, not 6 feet, of an infected student should quarantine, provided they were masked in a classroom. Does the science support this change?

Correcting misinformation and providing reliable data are collective responsibilities of the research community.

As a result of massive summer gatherings in and around Cape Cod, hundreds of vaccinated people tested positive for COVID-19 with viral titers similar to unvaccinated patients.

The masks contain freeze-dried, cell-free biosensors, enabling them to detect pathogens including SARS-CoV-2.

COVID-19 has laid bare some of the pitfalls of the relationship between scientific experts and policymakers—but some researchers say there are ways to make it better.

A proof-of-concept study finds some commonly used facial coverings may perform worse than no mask at all.

A model scenario concludes that frequent testing with fast turnaround is key to avoiding campus outbreaks of COVID-19, even if the tests are imperfect.

Face coverings prevent wearers from spreading pathogens, and might also limit the number of viral particles that enter the body, staving off severe infection, including COVID-19, research indicates.

As communities and businesses reopen amidst the pandemic, masks—in addition to other social distancing measures—are crucial for preventing new outbreaks.

Not all masks are created equal, and how they are worn makes a difference too.