In Tennessee, COVID-19 hospitalizations rose at a lower rate in areas where there were mask mandates opposed to areas where there were no mandates, according to a new study from Vanderbilt University.
- The study suggests face masks can help slow the spread of the coronavirus and help lower hospitalizations.
The study primarily looked at how hospitalization rates changed based on which counties patients came from, looking at which counties had masked mandates and which ones didn’t.
- The study found hospitalizations rose by more than 200% from July to October in Tennessee hospitals in which less than 25% of patients came from counties with mask mandates, Forbes reports.
- Hospitalizations rose by about 100% from July to October in hospitals where 26% to 50% of patients came from counties with mask mandates.
- There was roughly no change in hospitalization levels in hospitals where 75% of patients came from areas with mask mandates, according to Forbes.
The researchers said masking up isn’t the only way to stay safe, but it makes a huge difference.
- “It is also clear that masking alone is not a silver bullet: since early October nearly every region of the state has seen growth in hospitalizations. Again, however, this growth has been most dramatic in hospitals that draw a large percentage of patients from areas without mask requirements.”
Flashback
In early October, a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found Arizona saw a 75% drop in new coronavirus cases back in June after the state added local mask mandates, restrictions on public events and closures of bars, gyms, movie theaters and restaurants.
- “The primary goal of implementing widespread enhanced mitigation measures in Arizona was to protect and save lives and maintain capacity in the health care system,” CDC researchers wrote. “A combination of voluntary and enforceable measures is more effective than any single measure.”