Nose mask requirements curb virus transmission, boost economies, say analysts

*Masks associated with significantly better Coronavirus outcomes ─ Goldman Sachs Chief Economist

Web Editor | ConsumerConnect

A national nose mask mandate could reduce the prevalence of COVID-19 infections and potentially prevent lockdowns that would subtract as much as 5 percent from the economy.

According to economists at Goldman Sachs in a recent analysis, the investment bank found that requiring nose masks would “likely increase face mask usage meaningfully,” which would in turn curb transmission and have a positive effect on the economy, reports ConsumerAffairs.

“If a face mask mandate meaningfully lowers Coronavirus infections, it could be valuable not only from a public health perspective but also from an economic perspective because it could substitute for renewed lockdowns that would otherwise hit GDP (Gross Domestic Product),” stated the researchers.

In respect of a positive economic impact, the research data showed that both infections and deaths increased for residents in countries that didn’t reach widespread mask usage.

Jan Hatzius, Chief Economist at Goldman Sachs, in the report, said: “We find that face masks are associated with significantly better coronavirus outcomes.”

Report further indicates that till date, there are more than 10 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 across the globe and at least 2.68 million cases in the United States (US).

Dr. Anthony Fauci, a US top infectious disease expert, Tuesday, June 30 said Coronavirus cases could snowball to 100,000 a day in the US if Americans don’t heed health and safety guidelines.

The country’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently updated its mask guidance to state that Americans should wear masks in “all public settings when around people outside of their household,” as opposed to just places such as pharmacies and grocery stores.