The data showed that masks were not a panacea, but they could help reduce spread.42 One study later showed that weekly increases in per capita mortality were four times lower in places where masks were the norm or recommended by the government, compared with other regions.43 Another study published around the same time looked at the effects of mandates for mask use issued by governors in April and May. The authors estimated that these state policies reduced the number of new COVID cases by up to two percentage points per day.44 Other studies would go on to report similar findings. Masks were
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