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Preventing the Spread of SARS-CoV-2 With Masks and Other “Low-tech” Interventions

Educational Objective
To identify the key insights or developments described in this article
1 Credit CME

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the cause of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), has caused a global pandemic of historic proportions in the 10 months since cases were first reported in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, with worldwide morbidity, mortality, and disruptions to society.

Ultimately, a safe and effective vaccine will be essential to control the pandemic and allow resumption of the many activities of normal life. While results of phase 3 trials for multiple candidate vaccines are on the near horizon, “low-tech” tools to prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2 are essential, and it must be emphasized that these interventions will still be needed after a vaccine is initially available. Even if one or more vaccines have high efficacy and uptake in the population, it will take at least several months for enough people to be vaccinated to confer herd immunity on a population basis.

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Article Information

Corresponding Author: Andrea M. Lerner, MD, MS, National Institutes of Health, 31 Center Dr, Room 7A10A, Bethesda, MD 20892 (andrea.lerner@nih.gov).

Published Online: October 26, 2020. doi:10.1001/jama.2020.21946

Conflict of Interest Disclosures: None reported.

References
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Wang  Y , Tian  H , Zhang  L ,  et al.  Reduction of secondary transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in households by face mask use, disinfection and social distancing: a cohort study in Beijing, China.   BMJ Glob Health. 2020;5(5):e002794. doi:10.1136/bmjgh-2020-002794 PubMedGoogle Scholar
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Viral Diseases, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. Scientific Brief: SARS-CoV-2 and potential airborne transmission. Updated October 5, 2020. Accessed October 8, 2020. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/more/scientific-brief-sars-cov-2.html
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Leung  NHL , Chu  DKW , Shiu  EYC ,  et al.  Respiratory virus shedding in exhaled breath and efficacy of face masks.   Nat Med. 2020;26(5):676-680. doi:10.1038/s41591-020-0843-2 PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref
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AMA CME Accreditation Information

Credit Designation Statement: The American Medical Association designates this Journal-based CME activity activity for a maximum of 1.00  AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the participant to earn up to:

  • 1.00 Medical Knowledge MOC points in the American Board of Internal Medicine's (ABIM) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program;;
  • 1.00 Self-Assessment points in the American Board of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery’s (ABOHNS) Continuing Certification program;
  • 1.00 MOC points in the American Board of Pediatrics’ (ABP) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program;
  • 1.00 Lifelong Learning points in the American Board of Pathology’s (ABPath) Continuing Certification program; and
  • 1.00 CME points in the American Board of Surgery’s (ABS) Continuing Certification program

It is the CME activity provider's responsibility to submit participant completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting MOC credit.

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