In this Nov. 3, 2020, file photo, a man hands his completed ballot to an election worker at a drive-thru polling location in Kansas City, Mo. Poll workers in some states who came in contact with voters on Election Day are now reporting they have tested positive for the coronavirus despite painstaking efforts to secure election sites. To be sure, the cases cannot be tied definitely to polling places.
In this Nov. 3, 2020, file photo, a man hands his completed ballot to an election worker at a drive-thru polling location in Kansas City, Mo. Poll workers in some states who came in contact with voters on Election Day are now reporting they have tested positive for the coronavirus despite painstaking efforts to secure election sites. To be sure, the cases cannot be tied definitely to polling places. Charlie Riedel, Associated Press
Herb Scribner
By Herb Scribner

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently released new evidence from a study in Kansas that revealed mask mandates can help stop the spread of the novel coronavirus.

What happened:

Researchers reviewed COVID-19 data in Kansas after the state added a mask mandate.

The researchers found that the counties that added a mask mandate saw a decrease in COVID-19 cases.

  • Counties with mask mandates saw a 6% reduction in cases based off 7-day rolling averages.

The counties that didn’t add a mask mandate saw cases rise.

  • These counties saw a 100% increase in cases, according to the study.
Related
Statewide mask mandates help businesses stay alive, Utah study finds

Yes, but:

  • The researchers admitted the study was not a randomized, controlled study — so other factors could have led to the slow of the spread, like physical distancing or fewer gatherings.

Key quote:

  • “This adds to the growing body of evidence that says large, widespread masking helps to slow the spread of COVID,” said Dr. Aaron Carroll, a professor at Indiana University School of Medicine, according to NPR.
Related
There were lower COVID-19 hospitalizations in areas with mask mandates, study finds

Flashback:

View Comments

Back in October, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released data that showed the state of Arizona had a 75% drop in new COVID-19 cases after it added local mask mandates, restrictions on public events and closures of bars, gyms, movie theaters and restaurants in the middle of June, which I wrote about for the Deseret News.

Join the Conversation
Looking for comments?
Find comments in their new home! Click the buttons at the top or within the article to view them — or use the button below for quick access.