Research and analysis

COVID-19: the effectiveness of face coverings to reduce transmission

These reviews aim to identify and examine evidence on the effectiveness of face coverings to reduce transmission of COVID-19 in the community.

• From: UK Health Security Agency
• Published: 26 June 2020
• Last updated: 18 September 2023 — See all updates

Documents

Face coverings in the community and COVID-19: a rapid review

Ref: GOV-15252. Originally published: 26 June 2020

PDF, 607 KB, 47 pages

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Face coverings in the community and COVID-19: a rapid review (update 1)

Ref: GOV-15254. Originally published: 29 January 2021

PDF, 775 KB, 46 pages

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The effectiveness of face coverings to reduce transmission of COVID-19 in community settings: a rapid review (update 2)

Ref: GOV-15257. Originally published: 9 November 2021

PDF, 1.16 MB, 61 pages

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The effectiveness of N95 masks as wearer protection against COVID-19 in community settings in people at higher risk from becoming seriously ill from COVID-19: a rapid review

Ref: GOV-14170. Originally published: 12 April 2023

PDF, 282 KB, 23 pages

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Details

These evidence reviews were conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic by the COVID-19 rapid evidence service and were initially published on another website. Their content has not changed from their initial publication. Some reviews were published before October 2021 by Public Health England (PHE).

Three rapid reviews (an original and 2 updates) aimed to identify and examine evidence on the effectiveness of face coverings to reduce transmission of COVID-19 in the community. These comprise:

• an initial review – initially published by PHE on 26 June 2020, with research up to 5 June 2020 and including 28 studies
• a first update review – initially published by PHE on 29 January 2021, with research up to 22 September 2020 and including an additional 16 studies (10 observational and 6 laboratory studies)
• a second update review – initially published by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) on 9 November 2021, with research up to 14 September 2021 and including 25 studies (2 randomised controlled trials and 23 observational studies)

One rapid review aimed to identify and assess the available evidence for the effectiveness of N95 and equivalent face masks as wearer protection against COVID-19 when used in the community by people at higher risk of becoming seriously ill from COVID-19. It was initially published by UKHSA on 12 April 2023, with research up to 26 September 2022. No studies matching the inclusion criteria were found, so no evidence could be presented.

The COVID-19 rapid evidence service also conducted an overview of the evidence for the role of face coverings in mitigating the transmission of SARS-CoV-2, informing a statement from an expert panel on face coverings and COVID-19. This overview (published by UKHSA on 14 October 2021) searched for review-level evidence up to 28 April 2021 and included evidence from 2 reviews on airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2, 4 reviews on variants of concern, and 5 reviews on face coverings.

Published 26 June 2020
Last updated 18 September 2023 + show all updates

1. 18 September 2023

   Republished 3 legacy reports.

2. 26 June 2020

   First published.