Nielsen Comments on Masks and Economic Damage

Updated July 23, 2020

As tensions rise across the United States over mandates to wear masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19, experts say evidence of the public health and economic benefits of wider mask use is growing. However, getting more Americans to cover their faces might take more than just social pressure and strong recommendations. “There are some very, very good reports about why we need to do this,” said Nancy H. Nielsen, MD, PhD. “This is both about health and the economy because going back and forth from liberalizing what we do to having to shut down again is terrible for the economy,” Nielsen said. “The science is clear, the evidence is there, and this is something that should be a matter of course until the virus is under control.”