Frequently Asked Questions
Who Should Not Wear a Face Cover?
- Children under age 2.
- Anyone who has trouble breathing, or is unconscious, incapacitated, or otherwise unable to remove the cover without assistance.
How can I select and get the best protection from my mask?
Wearing a mask around people who do not live with you or when someone in your house is sick is now even more critical with the increased spread of new COVID-19 variants, some of which appear to spread more easily and quickly than the original virus that causes COVID-19.
Masks work best when everyone wears them, but masks vary in how much protection they offer the wearer and others around them. When choosing a mask, it is important to consider how well it fits, how many layers it has, and how well it filters the air.
To help make sure your mask works the best it can:
- Pick one that fits snugly against your nose, mouth and chin with no gaps that allow air to leak around the edges.
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Masks with a nose wire strip across the top and wearing a mask brace over the mask can help ensure a snug fit. Knotting and tucking the ear loops of a 3-ply disposable mask can help improve its fit. Here are video instructions on how to do this
- Pick a mask with layers of material. Add layers by using a cloth mask with multiple layers or wear a disposable mask under a cloth mask. The top mask should push the edges of the inner one against your face. (Don’t combine 2 disposable masks or combine a KN95 mask with any other mask.) Masks with inner filter pockets are also good options. Make sure you can see and breathe easily with your mask.
The CDC offers helpful
guidance on wearing masks and on improving the
fit of your mask and pros and cons of different kinds of masks.
How should I care for a cloth face covering?
It’s a good idea to wash your cloth face covering frequently, ideally after each use, or at least daily. Have a bag or bin to keep cloth face coverings in until they can be laundered with detergent and hot water and dried on a hot cycle. If you must re-wear your cloth face covering before washing, wash your hands immediately after putting it back on and avoid touching your face.
Discard cloth face coverings that:
- No longer cover the nose and mouth
- Have stretched out or damaged ties or straps
- Cannot stay on the face
- Have holes or tears in the fabric
What is the proper way to wear a cloth face covering?
- Wash your hands before putting it on.
- Put it over your nose and mouth - the top should sit on the bridge of your nose and the bottom should rest under your chin.
- It should fit snugly against your face with no gaps or slipping down.
- You should be able to breathe easily.
- Reusable face covers should be washed with detergent or soap every night and allowed to dry completely before wearing again.
If you find yourself constantly adjusting your face cover, alter it or get a new one to reduce the number of times you touch your face.
Where's the scientific evidence?
There is scientific evidence to suggest that use of cloth face coverings by the public during a pandemic could help reduce disease transmission. Their primary role is to reduce the release of infectious particles into the air when someone speaks, coughs, or sneezes, including someone who has COVID-19 but feels well. Cloth face coverings are not a substitute for physical distancing, washing hands, and staying home when ill, but they may be helpful when combined with these primary interventions.
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June 11, 2020 study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences concluded: “…wearing of face masks in public corresponds to the most effective means to prevent interhuman transmission, and this inexpensive practice, in conjunction with simultaneous social distancing, quarantine, and contact tracing, represents the most likely fighting opportunity to stop the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Below is additional research that supports the use of face coverings:
- Of Masks and Methods ~ Annals of Internal Medicine, Nov. 18, 2020.
- Effectiveness of Adding a Mask Recommendation to Other Public Health Measures to Prevent SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Danish Mask Wearers ~ Annals of Internal Medicine, Nov. 18, 2020.
- Could masks curtail the post-lockdown resurgence of COVID-19 in the US? ~ National Center for Biotechnology Information, Nov 2020.
- Mandatory universal masking is the key to stop COVID-19 ~ Journal of Global Health, Dec. 2020.
- COVID-19: What we talk about when we talk about masks ~ Revista de Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical , Nov. 2020.
- A rapid systematic review of the efficacy of face masks and respirators against coronaviruses and other respiratory transmissible viruses for the community, healthcare workers and sick patients ~ International Journal of Nursing Studies, Aug. 2020.
- News Article: Confused About Masks? Here’s What Scientists Know ~ New York Times, Nov. 20, 2020
What is a cloth face covering?
A cloth face covering is a material that covers the nose and mouth. It can be secured to the head with ties or straps or simply wrapped around the lower face. It can be made of a variety of materials, such as cotton, silk, or linen. A cloth face covering may be factory-made or sewn by hand or can be improvised from household items such as scarfs, T-shirts, sweatshirts, or towels.