Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Study: Neck Gaiters Are Worse Than Wearing No Mask At All
Yahoo News: Neck Gaiters May Actually Increase COVID-19 Transmission, Study Finds
[A] new study published in Science Advances is shedding light on which masks are most effective — and which may actually be hurting the effort to curb COVID-19. The analysis, carried out by researchers at Duke University School of Medicine, relied on an “optimal measurement method” that uses a laser beam and cellphone camera to track the number of droplets that emerged from an individual while he or she wore a mask. Of the 14 masks, the two that proved least effective were a bandanna and what the researchers refer to as a neck fleece, also known as a neck gaiter. (Haglage, 8/10)
San Francisco Chronicle: Does Your Coronavirus Mask Work? New Study Separates The Worthy From The Worthless
That bandanna might make you look like a cool outlaw from an old Western movie but it’s largely ineffective in protecting you from the coronavirus, according to a new study. A group of researchers at Duke University tested 14 different types of common face masks to determine which ones work best to stop the transmission of respiratory droplets during regular speech - and which ones are practically useless. (Vaziri, 8/10)
Read the full study here:
Low-cost measurement of face mask efficacy for filtering expelled droplets during speech
In other news about mask-wearing —
ABC News: Fauci To David Muir: ‘Universal Wearing Of Masks’ Essential To Combat COVID-19 Spread
Dr. Anthony Fauci told “World News Tonight” anchor David Muir that the viral photo of a crowded school hallway in Georgia taken last week was “disturbing.” “There should be universal wearing of masks,” he said Monday when asked about reopening schools. “There should be the extent possible social distancing, avoiding crowds. Outdoors [is] always better than indoors and [you should] be in a situation where you continually have the capability of washing your hands and cleaning up with sanitizers.” (Castillejo and Yang, 8/10)
The Hill: Police Searching For Man Who Punched Teen Sesame Place Worker Over Mask Requirement
A teen employee at Sesame Place had to undergo surgery on Monday after being punched by a man he told to wear a face mask, and police say they are still searching for the suspect. According to a local NBC News affiliate, a teen employee at Sesame Street theme park in Pennsylvania asked a man to wear a face mask, noting they are required in the park. Police say the man later confronted the teen at Captain Cookie's High C's Adventure ride and punched him in the face. (Seipel, 8/10)
Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Kemp Rules Out Statewide Order Requiring Masks At Georgia Schools
Gov. Brian Kemp on Monday ruled out ordering public school systems to impose mask mandates for returning students and teachers, echoing his preference that local education officials decide whether to require face coverings to contain the spread of the coronavirus. Kemp, speaking at the opening of a testing site at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, said he was confident that school superintendents can make their own decisions about whether masks are necessary in their districts as he continued to encourage but not require their use. (Bluestein, 8/10)
USA Today: Smash Mouth Plays To Packed, Unmasked Crowd At Sturgis Motorcycle Rally
Smash Mouth's concert in Sturgis, South Dakota was not a smash hit. The rock band faced backlash after performing for thousands of bikers at the jam-packed Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Sunday as coronavirus cases continue to surge in the U.S. "We’re all here together tonight," frontman Steve Harwell said while headlining the Buffalo Chip concert series. "(Screw) that COVID (expletive)." (Henderson, 8/10)
In global mask news —
AP: Face Masks Now Required Outdoors At Crowded Paris Locations
From the most romantic spots along the Seine to popular shopping streets, residents and visitors in Paris were required to wear face masks starting Monday in some outdoor areas of the French capital amid an uptick in reported coronavirus cases. Police are authorized to issue a 135-euro ($159) fine to people who do not follow the new public health requirement. One location covered by the measure is the banks of the Canal Saint-Martin, among the city’s most popular outdoor spots for lunch or an aperitif with friends. (Corbet, 8/10)
