Covid: with more loyal masks even at a social distance

(ANSA) - ROME, AUGUST 24 - Wearing the mask makes it more loyal to respect other behaviors useful for the prevention of Covid-19. Those who wear it are in fact 13 times more likely to stick to physical distancing. This was revealed by a study of the University of Erfurt, in Germany, published on Plos One. Scholars asked nearly 7,000 people, between April and May 2020, for their views on masks and their feelings towards other people who wore them or chose not to. Analysis of the responses revealed that those who chose to wear nose and mouth protection were seven times more likely to wash their hands and 20 times more likely to avoid tight hands. Based on weekly participant surveys, researchers report that the habit of wearing the mask increased considerably when a policy was implemented that made its use mandatory. In addition to examining the survey data, the team conducted an experiment involving 925 participants, some of whom were not wearing mouth and nose protection.
   The results showed that voluntary face masks could lead to less compliance and be perceived as less equitable than a mandatory policy. 'compliant' people perceive each other more positively. (HANDLE).