by Champagne Morris and Brenda Sutherlin
On Friday, January 14, 2022, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) updated recommendations for Americans to wear masks that offer the most protection.
With the current Omicron variant which is very contagious, the CDC recommends choosing your mask carefully.
“To protect yourself and others from COVID-19, CDC continues to recommend that you wear the most protective mask you can that fits well and that you will wear consistently.”
Since the pandemic, what to use as a mask has changed. After the initial few months of pandemic, health officials recommended everyone wear a mask once mask supplies increased.
People have worn a variety of masks such as cloth, paper, and the medical grade N95s.
According to the CDC, “Some masks and respirators offer higher levels of protection than others, and some may be harder to tolerate or wear consistently than others. It is most important to wear a well-fitted mask or respirator correctly that is comfortable for you and that provides good protection.”
People may choose their masks based on their environment, such as wearing a cloth or paper mask while shopping, but wearing an N95 in a hospital, or a crowded area where it is hard to social distance.
“While all masks and respirators provide some level of protection, properly fitted respirators provide the highest level of protection. Wearing a highly protective mask or respirator may be most important for certain higher risk situations, or by some people at increased risk for severe disease, ” the CDC reports.
While there are many types to choose from, the most effective type are approved by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, (NIOSH) and below is an example of what to look for when buying a mask.
