Sterile Surgical Medical Face Mask -

With the latest COVID-19 variant causing a slew of new infections, you wisely wonder about the best face shields from omicron.Can a cloth mask still protect you?Should you double block?According to some health experts, it's time to upgrade.
The U.S. reported a record number of COVID-19 cases in early 2022 - an average of more than 400,000 new cases a day for seven days - driven largely by omicron variants.News of the rise in cases comes as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also announced an expanded use of boosters and (a move that worries many) a reduction in the amount of time it takes to isolate.Now, several experts are also suggesting that it's time to upgrade cloth masks to KN95 or N95 respirators, or disposable surgical masks.
How important are switches?The CDC's most recent mask guidance (last updated October 2021) recommends wearing at least two layers of any mask that fits.But since the omicron variant came into the global spotlight in November 2021, many health experts have suggested better protection."Cloth masks are nothing more than facial decoration. Given the omicron, they have no place," CNN medical analyst Leana Wen, MD, told the news outlet recently.
Health experts have long warned that while cloth masks are great at blocking larger respiratory droplets that can contain coronavirus particles, they're not as good at blocking smaller aerosols that can still infect you.This is where a respirator may excel.Take the KN95 mask as an example.At its most basic level, it's a four-layer material, whereas cloth masks typically only have one or two layers.Crucially, one of the layers is made of polypropylene, a plastic that electrostatically filters viral particles.Surgical masks are three-ply masks commonly worn by medical professionals and are also typically made of polypropylene.
These extra layers can make a big difference in effectiveness.According to the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, the low-tech materials of cloth masks, combined with their generally looser fit, mean that a typical cloth mask can have more than 75 percent inward and outward leakage.Meanwhile, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, N95 masks are 95 percent effective at filtering airborne particles (if worn properly); surgical masks are typically 5 to 10 percent less effective than N95s, according to CNN .
So, what should you do with your cloth masks?Experts point out that cloth masks are better than nothing.If you're committed to your cloth mask style game, consider placing a disposable surgical mask underneath it for better protection.But at this point, many experts are encouraging people to upgrade to respirators.
Concerns about PPE shortages early in the pandemic (recall that shortages early in the pandemic led health experts to advise you not to buy N95 or surgical masks in order to save them for healthcare workers who need them most) are less of a concern today."If we're going to say masks are required -- when we're not from a mask-wearing culture and people don't like wearing masks -- at least recommend that they wear the most effective masks," Dr Wen said.CDC guidelines are on the record and still advise against purchasing surgical masks.
When buying gas masks, beware of counterfeit products.According to the CDC, about 60 percent of N95s in the U.S. today are actually fake.Counterfeit N95 and KN95 masks are not certified by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and may not provide adequate protection.To make sure you are getting the real thing, check the markings on the mask.Certified masks should be N95 or KN95 stamped and have a approval (TC) number.(See the CDC's full list of ways to spot fakes here.)
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