A new study of studies reignites controversy over mask mandates
Most papers are inconclusive, though the largest covid-era study showed benefits
The covid-19 pandemic may be fading into history, but debate over disease-control policies remains fierce. In January Cochrane, a non-profit, published a meta-analysis (a study of studies) on mask mandates, which did not detect statistically significant evidence of their effectiveness.
This article appeared in the Graphic detail section of the print edition under the headline “Garbage in, garbage out”
From the April 8th 2023 edition
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