Physical distancing, face masks, and eye protection to prevent person-to-person transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Derek K ChuElie A AklHolger J Schünemann



The Lancet Vol 395 June 27, 2020 Tam metin için tıklayınız

Summary
Background Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causes COVID-19 and is spread personto-person through close contact. We aimed to investigate the effects of physical distance, face masks, and eye
protection on virus transmission in health-care and non-health-care (eg, community) settings.
Methods We did a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the optimum distance for avoiding person-toperson virus transmission and to assess the use of face masks and eye protection to prevent transmission of viruses.
We obtained data for SARS-CoV-2 and the betacoronaviruses that cause severe acute respiratory syndrome, and
Middle East respiratory syndrome from 21 standard WHO-specific and COVID-19-specific sources. We searched
these data sources from database inception to May 3, 2020, with no restriction by language, for comparative studies
and for contextual factors of acceptability, feasibility, resource use, and equity. We screened records, extracted data,
and assessed risk of bias in duplicate. We did frequentist and Bayesian meta-analyses and random-effects metaregressions. We rated the certainty of evidence according to Cochrane methods and the GRADE approach. This study
is registered with PROSPERO, CRD42020177047.
Findings Our search identified 172 observational studies across 16 countries and six continents, with no randomised
controlled trials and 44 relevant comparative studies in health-care and non-health-care settings (n=25697 patients).
Transmission of viruses was lower with physical distancing of 1 m or more, compared with a distance of less than 1 m
(n=10736, pooled adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0·18, 95% CI 0·09 to 0·38; risk difference [RD] –10·2%, 95% CI
–11·5 to –7·5; moderate certainty); protection was increased as distance was lengthened (change in relative risk
[RR] 2·02 per m; pinteraction=0·041; moderate certainty). Face mask use could result in a large reduction in risk of
infection (n=2647; aOR 0·15, 95% CI 0·07 to 0·34, RD –14·3%, –15·9 to –10·7; low certainty), with stronger
associations with N95 or similar respirators compared with disposable surgical masks or similar (eg, reusable
12–16-layer cotton masks; pinteraction=0·090; posterior probability >95%, low certainty). Eye protection also was associated
with less infection (n=3713; aOR 0·22, 95% CI 0·12 to 0·39, RD –10·6%, 95% CI –12·5 to –7·7; low certainty).
Unadjusted studies and subgroup and sensitivity analyses showed similar findings.
Interpretation The findings of this systematic review and meta-analysis support physical distancing of 1 m or more
and provide quantitative estimates for models and contact tracing to inform policy. Optimum use of face masks,
respirators, and eye protection in public and health-care settings should be informed by these findings and contextual
factors. Robust randomised trials are needed to better inform the evidence for these interventions, but this systematic
appraisal of currently best available evidence might inform interim guidance.
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