Research from the University of East Anglia reveals that wearing face masks did not significantly reduce Covid-19 infection risk following the initial Omicron surge. The study analyzed changes in infection risk factors as the pandemic evolved, noting that factors like mask usage, household size, and occupational exposure varied in significance over time. Funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research, the study emphasizes the need for adaptable risk management strategies and further research to understand these dynamics.
New findings from the University of East Anglia suggest that wearing face masks did not reduce the risk of Covid infection after the initial rise of the Omicron variant. An analysis of official data indicated that the risk factors for infection changed notably when the dominant Covid variant in the UK shifted from Delta to Omicron in December 2021. These included wearing a mask, a history of foreign travel, household size, whether people were working or retired, and contact with children or over-70s.
Lead author Professor Paul Hunter, of Norwich Medical School at the University of East Anglia (UEA), said: “Early in the pandemic there were many studies published looking at risk factors for catching Covid, but far fewer studies after the first year or so. Our research shows that there were changes in some risk factors around the time that the Omicron BA.2 variant became dominant.
” Co-author Dr. Julii Brainard, of UEA’s Norwich Medical Schoo.
