Evidence supporting the use of face masks and face coverings against spread of SARS-CoV-2

Department of Health and Social Care did not have the information requested.

Dear Department of Health and Social Care,

Please provide all evidence that supports the use of face masks, or face coverings, or both to prevent the transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus.

I only require evidence in support of the use of face masks and face coverings specifically in relation to the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, if you do not hold any evidence to support their use against this particular virus, please state as such.

This request is made under the Freedom of Information Act in the UK.

Yours faithfully,

Nicholas Wells

Department of Health and Social Care

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Dear Department of Health and Social Care,

Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of Information reviews.

I am writing to request an internal review of Department of Health and Social Care's handling of my FOI request 'Evidence supporting the use of face masks and face coverings against spread of SARS-CoV-2'.

My request regarding evidence supporting the use of face masks and face coverings against the spread of SARS-CoV-2 is an extremely straight forward request and by law, you should have responded promptly. Please send your response immediately.

A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is available on the Internet at this address: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/e...

Yours faithfully,

Nicholas Wells

Department of Health and Social Care

1 Attachment

Dear Mr Wells,

Please find attached the Department of Health and Social Care's response
to your recent FOI request. (our ref: FOI-1231969) 

Yours sincerely,

Lauren Der 

Freedom of Information team
Department of Health and Social Care

show quoted sections

Nicholas Wells left an annotation ()

The Department of Health and Social Care have admitted that they do not hold evidence supporting the use of face masks, or face coverings, or both to prevent the transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus.

They instead refer to SAGE meeting minutes from 21st April 2020 that under the sub-heading "Community face mask use" state the following, which provides no clear evidence to the support the use of face masks or coverings to prevent transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus and instead suggest a very weak argument for their use to prevent its spread:

9. The evidence on effectiveness of masks for source control (i.e. stopping infectious people — pre-symptomatic/asymptomatic — from infecting others) is weak. Evidence for protecting the mask wearer from becoming infected is also weak. The unusual situation for COVID is the relatively high infectiousness before symptoms appear.
10. Overall, the evidence that exists is marginally positive for the use of masks.
11. The effect of wearing a mask is likely to be small but not zero. The RCT evidence is weak and it would be unreasonable to claim a large benefit from wearing a mask.
12. Any policy decision taken must notjeopardise supply of masks to those settings where the evidence for use of masks is stronger and the effect size important (i.e. Health and Social Care settings).
13. SAGE advice below refers to cloth masks — specifically in the context of releasing Iockdown measures.
14. On balance, there is evidence to recommend the use of cloth masks in certain higher-risk settings as a precautionary measure where masks could be at least partially effective.
15. The common denominator is that these settings are enclosed spaces where social distancing is not possible consistently, creating a risk of close social contact with multiple parties the person does not usually meet.
16. Public transport and some shops (if crowded) are examples of such settings. Distancing remains the preferred option where possible.
17. In such settings, evidence would support a policy where cloth masks could be used for short durations where unavoidable closer interactions with others are occurring or likely.
18. By contrast, SAGE does not think there is good evidence for use for long periods where people regularly mix with the same people.
19. Working environments vary in many respects and where there is a risk of close social contact with multiple parties the person does not usually meet, use of masks may offer some benefit.
20. The evidence does not support a recommendation to wear masks outdoors in either urban or non-urban environments, unless in an unavoidable crowded situation.
21. This advice does not replace or change existing advice on other measures — such as hand washing, 2-metre distancing and self-isolation — which remain more important (because of stronger evidence and larger effects).
22. Negative behavioural impacts cannot be ruled out, e.g. those with symptoms who should isolate instead choose to break quarantine wearing a mask or repeated handling of the mask could increase hand-face contact
23. Equally, wearing masks in the context of lifting NPIs could reduce anxiety about release of measures, or reinforce the need for distancing measures.
24. Clear public guidance would be needed on mask design/construction, wearing, handling, cleaning and disposal.