Regularly wash cloth masks in the washing machine or by hand. (They can be washed along with other laundry.) Dry them in the dryer or hang them outside in the sun. 2020 has been an iconic year in many ways – one that most of us are anxious to leave behind. But we’ve also learned a lot this year, especially about health and safety, especially how to stay safe in our communities. Keeping ourselves, our families, and our communities safe is a responsibility we all share.
Since we don’t test masks ourselves, we rely on expert guidance and our previous reporting about how to shop for masks. The CDC recommends anyone shopping for masks look for multiple layers and adjustable nose wires, and experts told us to ensure masks can be made to fit tightly against the face. The following highly rated face masks list features that align with our research. In its guide to masks and respirators, the CDC further prioritized respirators above masks — with emphasis on a proper fit — and specified that they’re better than cloth products. As we mentioned above, KN95 face masks aren’t ideal for higher-risk individuals or medical settings, but if you need better filtration than a cloth mask for everyday, low-risk use, these are a decent way to go. On top of being less expensive per mask, they also come in a variety of colors, which should make it easier to coordinate an outfit or just mix it up once in a while.
You may also see other masks that use labels like “ASTM Level 3,” which refer to different ASTM standards for medical masks. For our purposes, all of this means that if you’re Disposable masks looking for low-risk masks for the office, look for the Workplace Performance labels. If you can’t get your hands on the masks listed above, at least wear a cloth mask.
A surgical mask is intended to be worn by health professionals during surgery and certain health care procedures to catch microorganisms shed in liquid droplets and aerosols from the wearer’s mouth and nose. Evidence supports the effectiveness of surgical masks in reducing the Medical masks risk of infection among other healthcare workers and in the community. However, a Cochrane review found that there is no clear evidence that disposable face masks worn by members of the surgical team would reduce the risk of wound infections after clean surgical procedures.
Traverso and his colleagues are now working on developing such masks, which are not yet commercially available. Voluntary reports from health care personnel and users can be submitted through MedWatch, the FDA Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting program. The reuse of barrier face coverings should be determined based upon the manufacturer’s instructions, which may include washing and subsequent wear. The general public’s use of cloth face coverings made from common, easily accessible materials, are an additional public health approach to help slow the spread of COVID-19.