Study: Even Moderate COVID Restrictions Can Slow The Spread Of The Virus — If They're Timely

Even Moderate COVID Restrictions Can Slow The Spread Of The Virus — If They're Timely Mask mandates and other interventions can help stop a surge, even where vaccination rates are low, say scientists who combed through states' data. When they start and how long they last matters. NPR.org

Tensions are high right now. As the delta variant spreads like wildfire across the U.S., vaccination rates are still low in many places and parents and school staff are anxiously wondering what will happen as schools start up again. Should there be more mask mandates? Will businesses have to close again? Will big gatherings be banned?

There are no clear, simple answers to these difficult questions — in some places officials and employers in the same locale are making different decisions.

But for those looking to the scientific evidence for guidance, here are some things a team of researchers at the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University have learned since the pandemic began that can help. The overall message from their analysis of state-by-state U.S. data is this: Even moderate restrictions on the size of gatherings, and some level of mask requirements can help help slow a surge of COVID-19 cases, if implemented at the right time. ...