A sign of face mask requirements is seen at a movie theater in New York, the United States, March 5, 2021.(Photo: Xinhua)

 
Mandating masks was associated with a decrease in daily COVID-19 case and death growth rates within 20 days of implementation, according to a new study of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

To examine the association of state-issued mask mandates and allowing on-premises restaurant dining with COVID-19 cases and deaths during March 1 to Dec. 31 last year, the CDC compared county-level data on mask mandates and restaurant reopenings with county-level changes in COVID-19 case and death growth rates relative to the mandate implementation and reopening dates.

The study shows mandating masks was associated with a drop in daily COVID-19 case and death increase within 20 days of implementation.

Meanwhile, allowing on-premises restaurant dining was associated with an increase in daily COVID-19 case growth rates 41 to 100 days after implementation, and an increase in daily death growth rates 61 to 100 days after implementation, according to the study published Friday.

Mask mandates and restricting any on-premises dining at restaurants can help limit community transmission of COVID-19 and reduce case and death growth rates, said the CDC.