Modelling the potential impact of mask use in schools and society on COVID-19 control in the UK

Abstract As the UK reopened after first wave of COVID-19 epidemic, crucial questions emerged around role for ongoing interventions, including test-trace-isolate (TTI) strategies and mandatory masks. Here we assess importance masks in secondary schools by evaluating their impact over September 1–October 23, 2020. We show that, assuming TTI levels from August 2020 no fundamental changes virus’s transmissibility, adoption would have reduced predicted size a second wave, but preventing it required 68% or 46% those with symptoms to seek testing (assuming masks’ effective coverage 15% 30% respectively). With community settings not schools, rates increase 76% 57%.