Effectiveness of face mask mandates in 4 suburban US communities during the SARS-CoV2 Omicron surge

ABSTRACT

Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of face mask mandates in four suburban communities in the metropolitan Boston area during the SARS-CoV2 Omicron surge. Background(s) Face mask mandates have been implemented by local, state and national governments to limit the transmission of illness during the SARS-CoV2 pandemic. Method(s) A retrospective review of state reported, PCR positive cases of SARS-CoV2 and vaccination rates in four communities during the Omicron surge from 01/11/21- 01/31/22. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. Result(s) Two communities had a face mask mandate in place for all indoor public spaces throughout the study period, and two communities did not. Brookline (population 59,180, fully vaccinated rate per capita 62%) and Newton (population 88,593, vaccination rate 87%) implemented face mask mandates prior to the surge on 08/27/21 and 09/02/21, respectively, that remained in place through 02/18/22. Needham (population 31,248, vaccination rate 93%) and Framingham (population 72,308, vaccination rate 76%) issued mask recommendations but not a mask mandate. SARS-CoV2 percent positive rate per 100,000 population, reported weekly for each community is shown in Figure 1. Prior to Omicron, on 10/14/21 percent positive rates were 1% or less in all four communities. Percent positivity at the peak of Omicron was lower in Newton (13.18%) and Brookline (12.28%) than in Needham (14.92%) and Framingham (22.38%). Brookline had the lowest peak positivity rate and the lowest vaccination rate. Percent positivity also peaked and declined earlier in both communities with mask mandates. Conclusion(s) In this study, suburban communities with mask mandates had a lower SARS-CoV2 peak percent positivity rate and an earlier peak than communities without mask mandates. Face mask requirements in indoor public spaces may reduce transmission of SARS-CoV2 during variant surges, and may be particularly effective in communities with lower vaccination rates. (Figure Presented) .