Why wear face masks in public? Here's what the research shows
![Why wear face masks in public? Here's what the research shows](https://images.theconversation.com/files/325400/original/file-20200404-74255-1jr55gc.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=13%2C6%2C2239%2C1418&q=45&auto=format&w=926&fit=clip)
U.S. health officials flipped their advice and now recommend everyone wear cloth masks in public to reduce the spread of coronavirus to others. Some cities have fines for going without masks.
![](https://img.jakpost.net/c/2020/03/23/2020_03_23_90343_1584936780._large.jpg)
Why wear face masks in public? Here's what the research shows - Health - The Jakarta Post
What Are the Benefits of Wearing a Face Mask? - WSJ
![](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/de5fe50/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6720x4480+0+0/resize/1200x800!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fb8%2Fae%2F1581077b47758fe09d71c1c77e82%2Fla-photos-1staff-811079-me-masks-mandate-01-mjc.jpg)
Timeline: CDC mask guidelines during the COVID pandemic - Los Angeles Times
![](https://static01.nyt.com/images/2020/08/16/nyregion/00nyvirus-masksurveyFINALtop/00nyvirus-masksurveyFINALtop-mediumSquareAt3X.jpg)
Are New Yorkers Wearing Face Masks? Here's What We Found - The New York Times
![](https://d3i6fh83elv35t.cloudfront.net/static/2020/04/2020-04-20T000000Z_1430610898_RC2M8G9RR3M5_RTRMADP_3_HEALTH-CORONAVIRUS-USA-NEW-YORK-1024x683.jpg)
Is 6 feet far enough for social distancing? Here's what science says
![](https://www.pnas.org/cms/10.1073/pnas.2119266119/asset/67240e61-308a-4a19-866d-4abe17f956f3/assets/images/large/pnas.2119266119fig03.jpg)
Mask wearing in community settings reduces SARS-CoV-2 transmission
![](https://dims.apnews.com/dims4/default/86d28fe/2147483647/strip/false/crop/1920x1080+0+0/resize/1486x836!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fstorage.googleapis.com%2Fafs-prod%2Fmedia%2F8688343c2a904d0a9e678bd524f60bd3%2F1920.jpeg)
Does a face mask protect me, or just the people around me?
Reusing Disposable Face Masks: Guidance for Proper Usage
![](https://assets1.cbsnewsstatic.com/hub/i/r/2023/10/29/7ae4cab1-d6f4-4c2a-bcd5-8fda83e0092a/thumbnail/1280x720/75c7c0812c0c2b2918d90d8f4201e90b/ot-iaqairwebreathe1efficacymasksfd-2409736-640x360.jpg?v=46393ce924f64f970b15aff36d86add7)
Face mask effectiveness: What science knows now - CBS News
![](https://www.leehealth.org/getattachment/64052f7f-ac17-4eb6-8f34-134415ea104c/Mask-Etiquette-1.jpg?lang=en-US&width=800&height=529)
Mask Etiquette and Care: What You Need to Know
![](https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/10347/conversions/GettyImages-1219864420-thumb.jpg)
Masks save lives: Here's what you need to know - Harvard Health