Research and analysis

Face coverings and COVID-19: statement from an expert panel

An expert panel statement, informed by evidence and expertise, on the role of face coverings in mitigating COVID-19 transmission.

• From: UK Health Security Agency
• Published: 14 October 2021
• Last updated: 30 March 2023 — See all updates

Documents

The role of respirators and surgical masks in mitigating the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in healthcare settings: an overview of evidence (2022)

Ref: UKHSA publication gateway number GOV-13306

PDF, 941 KB, 52 pages

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The role of face coverings in mitigating the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 virus: statement from the Respiratory Evidence Panel (2021)

Ref: UKHSA publications gateway number GOV-9012

HTML

The role of face coverings in mitigating the transmission of SARS-CoV-2: an overview of evidence (2021)

Ref: UKHSA publications gateway number GOV-9012

PDF, 750 KB, 60 pages

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Composition of the Respiratory Evidence Panel

Ref: UKHSA publications gateway number GOV-14436

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Letters of invitation to join the Respiratory Evidence Panel

Ref: UKHSA publications gateway number GOV-9012

PDF, 144 KB, 2 pages

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Details

An expert respiratory evidence panel was convened in February 2021 to critically assess the evidence on:

• the role of airborne transmission in relation to SARS-CoV-2
• the transmissibility of new SARS-CoV-2 variants
• the effectiveness, including efficacy of different types of face coverings and factors that may impact on this

The panel comprised a group of infectious disease, hygiene, virology, microbiology, respiratory infection, engineering, occupational safety, and infection prevention and control (IPC) experts, and included representation from relevant UK advisory panels and professional societies. The panel met 3 times: on 1 March 2021, 21 April 2021 and 12 May 2021.

An overview of review-level evidence was produced by Public Health England (now the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA))’s coronavirus (COVID-19) Rapid Evidence Service (searches up to 28 April 2021) and was discussed and assessed by the panel.

The panel produced a statement of key findings and recommendations based on the results of the evidence review combined with their expert knowledge and experience.

The panel was reconvened in 2022 to critically assess the evidence published since the 2021 review, focusing on the role of respiratory protective equipment (RPE) and fluid-resistant surgical face masks (FRSM) in mitigating the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in healthcare settings. The panel met once on 14 July 2022.

An overview of review-level evidence was produced by UKHSA’s COVID-19 Rapid Evidence Service (searches up to 12 May 2022) and was discussed and assessed by the panel.

Published 14 October 2021
Last updated 30 March 2023 + show all updates

1. 30 March 2023

   Added 'The role of respirators and surgical masks in mitigating the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in healthcare settings: an overview of evidence' and updated 'Composition of the Respiratory Evidence Panel'.

2. 14 October 2021

   First published.