Leading model estimates 67,000 lives could be saved if everyone in America wore a mask
Around 67,000 lives in America could be saved by December if mask wearing became universal, according to projections from an influential coronavirus model.
The estimate came from the University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation [IHME], a model which at times has been cited by the White House.
IHME now projects that by December 1, on the current trajectory, around 295,000 people will have died from Covid-19 in America.
That is based on the assumption that around 50 per cent of people wear masks when they go outside. If that became 95 per cent, the estimate changes.
Under that scenario of universal mask wearing the model projects that around 228,000 Americans will have died by December 1 - some 67,000 fewer deaths.
The projections reflect the impact that wearing a mask could have on stopping the spread of the disease. Medical experts widely believe wearing a face covering makes it less likely those with Covid-19 will infect others.
Donald Trump, the US president, long declined to wear a mask in public but has changed position in recent weeks, wearing one at public events and preaching their virtues.
He has said it is “patriotic” to wear a mask, urged all Americans to do so when they cannot socially distance themselves outside and pulled a mask from his pocket at times during press briefings to show he carries one.
However the projections also underscore that under a variety of scenarios the death toll in America will rise considerably in the second half of the year.
Already more than 160,000 people in America have died from Covid-19, a total higher than any other country. Brazil has the second most fatalities at around 100,000.
Currently around a thousand people are dying from coronavirus every day in America, though the surge in daily death count seen last month appears to have ended, with the daily figure now dropping.
Mr Trump this week expressed hope that a vaccine could be developed before November 3, when he is up for re-election.
There is less than 100 days left before the US president faces Joe Biden, who is expected to be formally selected as the Democratic presidential nominee, at the ballot box.
