The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has updated its guidance on face masks, saying loosely woven cloth masks offer the least protection against COVID-19 and N95 and KN95 masks offer the most.
“We have known for many months that COVID-19 is airborne and therefore, a simple cloth mask is not going to cut it,” Leana Wen, MD, an emergency doctor and public health professor at George Washington University, said last month.
The CDC is still recommending that children under age 2 not wear masks. Students and staff at all K-12 schools should wear masks, regardless of an area’s vaccination status, the CDC says. If you do wear a cloth mask, make sure it has multiple layers of tightly woven, breathable material, the CDC says. Don’t wear a cloth mask if it has gaps around the sides of the face or nose, exhalation valves or vents, single-layer fabric, thin fabric that doesn’t block light, or has wet or dirty material.Wear two masks, such as a disposable mask underneath and a cloth mask on top.Knot and tuck ear loops of a 3-ply mask where they join the edge of the mask.
The CDC says N95 or KN95 respirators should fit closely on the face with no gaps and be comfortable when worn properly. N95 masks are so named because they can filter out 95% of particles in the air. “A respirator has better filtration, and if worn properly the whole time it is in use, can provide a higher level of protection than a cloth or procedural mask. A mask or respirator will be less effective if it fits poorly or if you wear it improperly or take it off frequently,” the CDC says.While caring for a person sick with COVID-19.When working and interacting in a job with people who may not be wearing masks.If your COVID vaccinations are not up to date.The Mayo Clinic.
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