Comment: This review have some valid points, but for some points, there is lacking evidence, for example, claim:
"The available evidence suggests that near-universal adoption of non-medical masks when out in public, in combination
with complementary public health measures could successfully reduce effective-R to below 1.0, thereby stopping community spread."
Where is the evidence for that?
In this review, it is stated:
"...mask wearing when going out increasing to 97.5%, without mandatory requirements."
So if almost 100% of people are wearing masks in some countries, where is the evidence that R0 will be reduced to below 1?
Some of the statements made me look at the authors, and the very first author is Jeremy Howard.
With all due respect, let's see who is Jeremy Howard.
"Jeremy Howard is an entrepreneur, business strategist, developer, and educator."
About · fast.ai
So, no medical background there, and further investigation leads us to his twitter page, called:
"Jeremy #Masks4All Howard"
And website:
#Masks4All: Why cloth masks should be required in public to help contain COVID-19
Where it is stated:
"Request Mandatory Mask Laws"
On his Twitter page, amongst other things, it is stated.
The Czech Republic went from zero mask usage to 100% in 10 days, and in the process they halted the growth of new covid-19 cases.
Czech Republic made face masks mandatory on 18. march 2020
New measures in force in the Czech Republic: Face masks mandatory, and limited shop operations
Here are the official statistics of the cases in Czech Republic
COVID-19 | Onemocnění Aktuálně MZČR
Where is the evidence that mask wearing halted the growth of new covid-19 cases?
With all due respect, after reading this review, and afterfurther investigation, there are some valid points, but this review seems to be very biased.