While there is no definitive data that shows mask-wearing interferes with breathing or athletic performance, the situation sparked heated and wide-spread discussion among Chinese social-media users.

One Weibo comment wrote: "Is health or performance more ... had been reported among Chinese team members. To prevent the spread, they required their players wear masks upon entering the venue.

A search for "silicone mask" on Chinese e-commerce platform Taobao ... and competitions have been held to test the performance of various methods,” he added. Dr Kong mentioned that only ...

Now, new research co-authored by MIT scholars suggests that, in China at least, wearing masks also influences how people act. The research, conducted across 10 studies focused on deviant behavior ...

As the coronavirus spreads across China, the authorities there have appealed to other countries to help with supplies of protective face masks. So how many masks does China need, and where are ...