Texas Tech study proves effectiveness of mask mandates in roughly two thirds of states

LUBBOCK, Texas — Texas Tech’s Department of Environmental Toxicology released a study in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health on the effectiveness of mask mandates during the pandemic.

Tech Professor of Advanced Materials Dr. Seshadri Ramkumar worked with doctoral student James Ayodeji for approximately seven months to examine how COVID-19 data trends in states that implemented mask mandates throughout the pandemic in 2020. 

“In that time of the severe pandemic, this was one of the first lines of defense,” said Ramkumar. “The simple things which we take for granted – a face mask – made out of cotton, can save lives, nobody knew.”

Their research backed up just how effective masks can be as a public health tool. 

“We have looked at the efficacy of facemask mandates on curtailing the COVID infection rates in 32 states from April 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020,” said Ramkumar. “The whole three quarters where the surge was ongoing after WHO declared this pandemic in March of last year.”

The majority of states in the study saw a reduction in COVID-19 cases within three to four weeks after implementing the mandate. 

Read the full article on everythinglubbock.com, published April 5, 2021.