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Public Health

Mask Mandates, On-Premises Dining, and COVID-19

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

1 Credit CME

JAMA

Published Online: April 1, 2021

JAMA Insights

Article Information and Disclosures

Gery P. Guy Jr, PhD, MPH¹;

Greta M. Massetti, PhD¹;

Erin Sauber-Schatz, PhD, MPH¹

Author Affiliations

¹CDC COVID-19 Response Team, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia

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Evidence-based prevention strategies can reduce the transmission of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Consistent and correct use of masks can prevent SARS-CoV-2 transmission, which predominantly occurs through inhalation and other exposure to respiratory droplets from infected persons. Mask use is particularly important because presymptomatic and asymptomatic spread is responsible for nearly 60% of COVID-19 cases.¹^,2 Universal and proper masking results in substantial community benefits.² To better leverage the prevention benefit of masks on community transmission, many states require that people wear a mask in public. As of March 1, 2021, 36 states and the District of Columbia had a mask mandate in effect.

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Article Information

Corresponding Author: Gery P. Guy Jr, PhD, MPH, CDC COVID-19 Response Team, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd, Atlanta, GA 30329 (irm2@cdc.gov).

Published Online: April 1, 2021. doi:10.1001/jama.2021.5455

Conflict of Interest Disclosures: None reported.

Disclaimer: The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

References

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Honein MA , Christie A , Rose DA , et al; CDC COVID-19 Response Team. Summary of guidance for public health strategies to address high levels of community transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and related deaths, December 2020. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2020;69(49):1860-1867. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm6949e2 PubMed Google Scholar Crossref

Fisher KA , Tenforde MW , Feldstein LR , et al; IVY Network Investigators; CDC COVID-19 Response Team. Community and close contact exposures associated with COVID-19 among symptomatic adults ≥18 years in 11 outpatient health care facilities—United States, July 2020. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2020;69(36):1258-1264. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm6936a5 PubMed Google Scholar Crossref

Guy GP Jr , Lee FC , Sunshine G , et al. Association of state-issued mask mandates and allowing on-premises restaurant dining with county-level COVID-19 case and death growth rates—United States, March 1–December 31, 2020. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2021;70(10);350-354. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm7010e3 PubMed Google Scholar Crossref

Lyu W , Wehby GL . Community use of face masks and COVID-19: evidence from a natural experiment of state mandates in the US. Health Aff (Millwood). 2020;39(8):1419-1425. doi:10.1377/hlthaff.2020.00818 PubMed Google Scholar Crossref

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. COVID-19: what to do if you are sick. Updated March 17, 2021. Accessed March 25, 2021. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/steps-when-sick.html

Kaufman BG , Whitaker R , Mahendraratnam N , Smith VA , McClellan MB . Comparing associations of state reopening strategies with COVID-19 burden. J Gen Intern Med. 2020;35(12):3627-3634. doi:10.1007/s11606-020-06277-0 PubMed Google Scholar Crossref

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Science brief: SARS-CoV-2 and potential airborne transmission. Updated October 5, 2020. Accessed March 25, 2021. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/more/scientific-brief-sars-cov-2.html

Kratzel A , Todt D , V’kovski P , et al. Inactivation of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 by WHO-recommended hand rub formulations and alcohols. Emerg Infect Dis. 2020;26(7):1592-1595. doi:10.3201/eid2607.200915 PubMed Google Scholar Crossref

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. COVID-19: variants of the virus that causes COVID-19. Updated February 17, 2021. Accessed March 25, 2021. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/variants/index.html

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 credit toward the CME [and Self-Assessment requirements] of the American Board of Surgery’s Continuous Certification program

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