Vanderbilt Dept. Of Health Policy COVID-19 Report: Masking Requirements and Hospitalizations in Tennessee

From the Document: "Twenty-six Tennessee counties have implemented mask requirements. As of August 4, 2020, these policies covered approximately 68% of Tennessee residents. In this report, we examine whether or not local masking requirements and other mitigation strategies are associated with lower growth in hospitalizations in those areas. We find evidence that, in areas where masking requirements have been implemented, hospitalizations for COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] have been stable or declined compared to areas where there are no such requirements. [W]e provide information on the population covered by mask orders, how it has varied by region and over time, and corresponding patterns in hospitalizations."