claim: significant reduction in sars-cov-2 exposure viral load due to masking results in a significant reduction in transmission with widespread implementation
evidence_1: our model predicts that moderately efficacious masks will lower exposure viral load 10-fold among people who get infected despite masking, potentially limiting infection severity.", "slight increases in mask adherence and/or efficacy above current levels would reduce the effective reproductive number (re) substantially below 1, particularly if implemented comprehensively in potential super-spreader environments.", "these results highlight the primacy of masking relative to other biomedical interventions under consideration for limiting the extent of the covid-19 pandemic prior to widespread implementation of a vaccine.", 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  "our model quantitatively links mask efficacy to reductions in viral load and subsequent transmission risk.", "our results reinforce that the use of masks by both a potential transmitter and exposed person substantially reduces the probability of successful transmission, even if masks only lower exposure viral load by 50%.")