As the highly transmissible omicron variant of COVID-19 tightens its hold on the country, health experts are urging the public to be more selective in their choice of face masks.
Single-layer cloth masks, which have been popular throughout the pandemic, don’t cut it against the new variant, experts say. Here’s what you need to know.
When should you wear a mask?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that in places with high levels of community spread, everyone — regardless of vaccination status — wear a face mask in indoor public areas.
As of Jan. 6, 97% of counties in the U.S. — including Dallas, Tarrant, Collin and Denton counties, were experiencing high levels of transmission — CDC data shows.
Dallas County uses a color-coded scale to indicate the county’s COVID-19 threat level. The county currently is at level red, which indicates the highest risk. Under the red level, officials recommend that fully vaccinated people wear face masks in settings where social distancing isn’t possible.
The county urges unvaccinated, partially vaccinated and immunocompromised people to wear masks in all indoor settings and in outdoor settings where social distancing isn’t possible.
How to achieve good fit, coverage, filtration
It’s important to select a mask that has multiple layers and covers your mouth and nose without leaving gaps.
Cloth masks should be made of multiple layers of tightly woven fabric and include a nose wire, the CDC says. Single-layer cloth masks are no longer the best option because they are less effective at filtering small aerosol particles, through which COVID-19 is known to spread.
If unsure whether your cloth mask is thick enough, hold it up to a bright light, the CDC says. If it blocks out the light, you’re good to go.
Surgical masks are another option, as long as they have a nose wire, multiple layers and don’t leave any gaps around your mouth and nose. A surgical mask can be worn underneath a cloth mask for improved protection and fit.
A trick for improving the fit of surgical masks is to knot and tuck the ear loops where they join the edge of the mask. Other ways to achieve a better fit include using a mask fitter and choosing a mask that ties around the back of the head.
Some masks have a label indicating they meet certain standards. For example, masks labeled “workplace performance” provide 50% or more filtration, while masks labeled “workplace performance plus” provide 80% or more filtration, among other criteria that they meet.
A list of masks that meet those standards can be found on the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health website.
What about respirators?
Health experts agree that N95 masks are the most effective against COVID-19. N95 masks that are approved by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health filter up to 95% of air particles when fitted properly.
Even though N95s are no longer in scarce supply like in the early days of the pandemic, the CDC still recommends that specially labeled “surgical” N95s be reserved for health care professionals.
A similar type of respirator is the KN95, which is China’s equivalent to the N95.
With both masks, the CDC cautions people be aware of how to spot counterfeits.
Which mask is best?
Respirators like N95s and KN95s provide the most protection.
The CDC recommends that respirators be chosen over other masks in high-risk situations, such as if you are immunocompromised or if for extended periods of time you’re in a setting where mask use by people around you is inconsistent.
Experts urge remembering that the safety protocols that have been in place throughout the pandemic — social distancing, frequent hand washing and increasing indoor ventilation — remain important to prevent spread of the disease.
