As health officials rush to minimize the spread of the highly contagious strain of Omicron, many experts have recommended that people switch from cloth or surgical masks to the more protective N95 and KN95 masks.
The current mask guidelines from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) do not explicitly recommend one type of mask over another, but instead specifies that people should choose the most protective and well-fitting mask that can be worn consistently. However, on January 14, the agency released more detailed information about the differences between the masks and confirmed that some, such as the N95 respirators, are more protective than others, such as cloth and surgical masks. The federal government is also working to make medical respirators more accessible to the general public. On January 13, President Joe Biden announced that his administration would soon provide free N95 masks to the public, but had yet to provide details.
After living with COVID-19 for almost two years, many people do not know what mask to wear and why. In the early days of the pandemic, federal health officials made it clear to the public not to wear masks, misguided medical personnel. Then, in April 2020, the CDC changed its guidelines for the provision of masks, but asked people, especially health workers, to wear a mask with a cloth rather than medical masks to provide resources. Although supplies have stabilized since then, many Americans continue to wear cloth or thin surgical masks instead of N95 or KN95 respirators. Here’s what you need to know about wearing a mask during a micron wave:
What is the difference between masks?
It is true that any mask is better than no. However, not all the masks are the same there are some differences between them. A properly worn N95 ventilator can filter up to 95% of airborne particles thanks to its close-fitting and synthetic material consisting of a web of tiny fibers charged with electrostatic energy. The same Chinese-made mask as the N95, the KN95 mask is intended to meet the same filtration standards, but with less regulatory oversight of manufacturing. on the other hand, the KF94 mask is basically made in Korea. Manufactured to Korean government standards and worn correctly, filters up to 94% of particles.
What is the best mask for Omicron?
Through its highly contagious nature, Dr. Mohammad Sovani, an infectious disease specialist at Ohio State University’s Wexner Medical Center, said, “Oh Micron has really changed the way we need to protect ourselves from infection. Wearing a good mask is one way to do this, along with best practices like vaccinations, social distancing, However, N95 masks made in USA has its drawbacks. It can be uncomfortable, especially when worn for a long time. and also they can be more difficult and more expensive to find than simple surgical or cloth masks as they are cheaper in price. Emily Sickbert-Bennett, director of infection prevention at the UNC Medical Center, says if these barriers absolutely prevent you from wearing the mask consistently and correctly, you may be better off with a wearable, lower-grade face shield. “A good N95 will be the highest quality filter mask you wear,” he says. But “the best mask you wear is yours.” He adds that in experimental situations, the N95 clearly dominates, but he also needs to think about his behavior in life.
What if I want to continue wearing a cloth or surgical mask?
If you plan to continue wearing a cloth or surgical mask, it’s a good idea to make sure it works as well as possible.
“The effect of a mask is a combination of how the material filters and how it adheres to the face,” says Sickbert-Bennett. The mask should fit snugly to the face with no large gaps on the sides, top or bottom. She says protection can be improved with simple modifications, such as knotting the ear loops on the surgical mask for a snug fit or wearing a cloth mask over the surgical mask to give it more face coverage. Different situations may require different masks, Sobhanie says. “If you are in a completely crowded area, a KN95 or N95 mask is a good idea,” he says. However, in low-risk environments, such as quick grocery shopping in an uncongested store, surgical masks will do the job. Cloths and surgical masks won’t protect the wearer from all germs, but research shows they can help protect others.
How do I know my mask is genuine or not?
Knockoff masks are everywhere. According to the CDC, about 60% of KN95 respirators sold in the United States are fake. The real N95 mask meets the standards set by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). NIOSH says that a fan can be fake if it does not have NIOSH signs, has additional accessories such as sequins, uses earrings instead of headbands, or advertises that it is allowed for children. (As an occupational safety agency, NIOSH standards do not apply to children.)
Can N95 be reused?
The N95 mask must be worn once. If you need to put the mask back on, you can put it in a brown paper bag and leave it in a dry environment at room temperature for a few days. According to the guidelines of experts at the University of California, Riverside, by then all the bacteria in it should have been dead. But if the mask becomes visibly dirty or loses a snug fit, you should wear it, Sobhanie says.
Do I have to wear a mask outside with the Omicron virus?
Crowded, poorly ventilated indoor environments are still the most dangerous places for transmission of COVID-19. It’s not impossible to infect COVID-19 outside, but it’s much safer than outside. However, Sickert-Bennett says there are certain scenarios in which it may make sense to wear a mask outside, such as in the stands at a sporting event.
