Because of the high transmissibility and rapid spread of the Omicron variant, there have been calls to upgrade our face masks to respirator grades.
On Friday Jan 14, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its mask guidelines to include types of masks and respirators, which states:
“Masks are made to contain droplets and particles you breathe, cough, or sneeze out. If they fit closely to the face, they can also provide you some protection from particles spread by others, including the virus that causes COVID-19.
Respirators are made to protect you by filtering the air and fitting closely on the face to filter out particles, including the virus that causes COVID-19. They can also contain droplets and particles you breathe, cough, or sneeze out so you do not spread them to others.“
The CNN Health has summarized the agency’s new guidelines along with helpful information to know about masks like N95s, where to get them and how to use them safely.
According to CDC, the masks and respirators provides different levels of protection and provides the following guidelines for choosing masks or respirators:
CDC: Choosing Masks or Respirators
- A respirator may be considered in certain situations and by certain people when greater protection is needed or desired.
- When caring for someone who is sick with COVID-19.
- If you are at increased risk for severe illness, for example, people who are immunocompromised, older adults, and people with certain underlying medical conditions.
- When working at a job where you interact with large numbers of the public, especially when not everyone is consistently wearing a mask. For example, bus drivers and grocery store workers.
- When riding on planes, buses, trains, or other forms of public transportation*, especially if it is for a long period of time on crowded conveyances.
- When physical distancing is not possible or when you are in crowded indoor or outdoor public settings.
- If you are not up to date on COVID-19 vaccinations.
Source: CDC Website
Loosely woven cloth products provide the least protection, layered finely woven products offer more protection, well-fitting disposable surgical masks and KN95s offer even more protection, and well-fitting (National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety)-approved respirators (including N95s) offer the highest level of protection.
– The CDC
- CDC: Types of Masks and Respirators
- CDC: N95 masks offer superior protection to cloth coverings and other masks
- The CDC just updated its mask information for Americans. These are the best ones to wear
The CDC guidelines recommends wearing better filling masks and emphasizes importance of checking weather it fits snugly over the nose, mouth and chin.
CDC: Masks Guildelines
- Its important to check that masks fit over your nose, mouth, and chin.
- Check for gaps by cupping your hands around the outside edges of the mask.
- Make sure no air is flowing from the area near your eyes or from the sides of the mask.
- If the mask has a good fit, you will feel warm air come through the front of the mask and may be able to see the mask material move in and out with each breath.
- Cloth Masks can be made from a variety of fabrics and many types of cloth masks are available. Wear Cloth masks with:
- A proper fit over your nose, mouth, and chin to prevent leaks
- Multiple layers of tightly woven, breathable fabric
- Nose wire
- Fabric that blocks light when held up to bright light source
- Do NOT wear cloth masks with:
- Gaps around the sides of the face or nose
- Exhalation valves, vents, or other openings
- Single-layer fabric or those made of thin fabric that don’t block light
- Wet or dirty material
- Ways to have better fit and extra protection with cloth and disposable masks
- Wear two masks (disposable mask underneath AND cloth mask on top)
- Combine either a cloth mask or disposable mask with a fitter or brace
- Knot and tuck ear loops of a 3-ply mask where they join the edge of the mask
- For disposable procedure masks, fold and tuck the unneeded material under the edges. (see instructions in this video)
- Use masks that attach behind the neck and head with either elastic bands or ties (instead of ear loops)
The new guidelines also recommends using the masks that meet new standards:
- Standard Specification for Barrier Face Coverings
- New Masks for Workplaces
- Meets workplace performance plus
- Counterfeit Respirators / Misrepresentation of NIOSH-Approval
“Follow manufacturer’s instructions on how to wear, store, and clean or properly dispose of the mask. These should be worn according to the manufacturer’s instructions without modifications,” the CDC states.
Coronavirus-19 vaccination watch
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) COVID vaccination tracker page (as of Jan 15, 9 a.m.) 651,532,915 doses have been distributed and 526,898,876 doses administered. According MDH COVID-19 Response vaccine data (as of Jan 12) a total of 8,967,160 doses of Covid-19 (Pfizer & Moderna) vaccines have been administered in Minnesota. According to the MDH latest tally (as of Jan 14) the confirmed COVID-19 cases in Minnesota are 1,138,246 (out of 16,989,663 tested) with 10,971 deaths.