As the old adage goes, “a picture if worth a thousand words,” so having a visualization of the effectiveness of mask wearing in preventing the spread of COVID-19 should help persuade people that they work. The following graphic is based on a scientific paper published in the spring and is based on a mathematical model of the spread of COVID-19.
The key takeaway is that even if masks are not 100% effective at preventing the spread of the virus, if everyone wears a mask, we can essentially eliminate the spread of COVID-19.