An Updated Guide to Face Masks
A year into the pandemic, many experts advise that we upgrade our masks to protect ourselves against more-contagious variants of the coronavirus. The good news is we now have more mask options to choose from. Here’s what to know:
An N95 mask filters out 95 percent of 0.3 micron particles, the hardest size to trap. But many people don’t wear N95s correctly, making them less effective. N95s are hard to find, and counterfeits are common. Avoid N95s with respirator valves, which expel your germs onto others.
The KN95, made in China, also filters 95 percent of hard-to-trap particles. It has ear loops instead of head straps, so may not fit as snugly. The mask supply chain is also riddled with counterfeit KN95s, which may work only about as well as a cloth mask.
The KF94 is a top pick among health experts for its quality, high filtration rate and snug fit, with top and bottom flaps, and a moldable nose bridge. It can be easier to speak wearing a KF94. Make sure yours is made in Korea, where quality control efforts make counterfeits less likely.
A rectangular surgical mask is made from pleated synthetic fabric that expands to fit around your face. It can trap 60 to 80 percent of particles in the lab, but in the real world, gaps around the edges make surgical masks less effective. You can improve the fit by knotting the ear loops.
Studies show that a two-layer cloth mask with a third layer of filter material is the best non-medical mask. But filtration rates vary depending on the fabric. Hold it to the window to see how much light sneaks through. Pro tip: Head ties create a tighter fit than ear loops.
Double masking is an easy way to upgrade a favorite cloth mask. Just wear a cloth mask over any type of medical mask to help seal gaps around the edges and add another layer of protection. Remember, any face covering is better than nothing, and the best mask is the one you will wear consistently.
By Tara Parker-Pope (The New York Times). Gif Credit: Glenn Harvey. Images by: Tony Cenicola/The New York Times and Getty Images.
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