University of California Institute of Transportation Studies

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 sparked conversations about how to best avoid large waves of airborne infections. A solution could save lives and avert an overwhelmed hospital system. Nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) may be implemented early-on to reduce infections before pharmaceutical interventions such as vaccines are available. This study evaluated the effectiveness of NPIs including cloth masks, N95 masks, antigen testing, and reductions in contact intensities. It also compared the effectiveness of interventions implemented during all activities to only high-risk work activities.