Wearing face masks for COVID reduces asthma, allergies, Study

Jerusalem: Wearing face masks outdoors during the Covid-19 pandemic has led to reduction of Asthma cases and seasonal allergies by 65 per cent, says a study.

The widespread use of face masks also reduced serious asthma cases that required hospitalisation, says the study. The study done by researchers from Israel's Sheba Medical Centre says that face masks also helped decrease the spread of viruses such as the flu in the past year.

A Times of Israel report quoted the researchers saying that "people are also less likely to suffer from seasonal allergies by wearing masks, as face coverings prevent pollen from flowers, trees, and grass coming into contact with the nose and mouth.

Wearing masks during the pandemic reduced cases of flu this year and also reportedly affected the first-quarter profit of Swiss drugmakers Novartis and Roche.