On Jul. 14, 2020, in an editorial published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), the CDC reviewed the latest science and affirmed that cloth face coverings are a critical tool in the fight against COVID-19 that could reduce the spread of the disease, particularly when used universally within communities.

This review included two case studies, showing that adherence to universal masking policies reduced SARS-CoV-2 transmission within a Boston hospital system, and one from CDCﾒs Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, showing that wearing a mask prevented the spread of infection from two hair stylists to their customers in Missouri.