The Omicron variant is driving a surge of infections. During the week between Christmas and New Year's Eve, the seven-day average for COVID-19 hospitalizations increased by more than 40%. Many medical experts are urging the public to reexamine their cloth masks from the past two years in light of the current wave.
The cloth mask is time to retire, according to Dr. Amy Edwards, an infectious disease expert with University Hospitals in Ohio. Linsey Marr, a Virginia Tech researcher who studies how viruses transmit in the air, told NPR that cloth masks aren't going to cut it. The cloth mask alone isn't enough to fight against the latest COVID variants, and how you should mask up is.
Cloth masks aren't enough.
While cloth masks are still better than no masks at all, the time has come to switch to medical-grade surgical masks or respirators.
The cloth masks were used because of initial supply chain issues. The surgical masks are superior in performance.
Experts say it is time to upgrade your cloth masks to surgical ones, N95s or similar high-filtration respirators, since we are two years into the Pandemic.
Why surgical masks are more effective.
According to a study published in August, surgical masks are 98% effective at removing virus particles. The key factor that prevents you from contracting a disease is the medical-grade masks that are made out of material with an electrostatic charge.
Cloth masks can't say the same things.
A high-quality mask can be found.
Doctors recommend wearing an isolation mask that fits snug and doesn't allow air gaps around your face. We covered how to buy high-quality masks. The guide is from last year, but still useful in finding authentic N95s.
Nagrani reminds us that mask effectiveness is more than just the material. The N95 and KN95 masks are the most efficient in the fight against Omicron, but they can't protect against the user error of an exposed nose.
Dr. Leana Wen of George Washington University told People that a three-ply surgical mask is the minimum of what you should be wearing at this time, in the face of such a contagious variant that is airborne. If you can't find medical-grade options, you should combine cloth and disposable masks. N95s and other high quality masks still provide the best filtration, and they remain your best bet for getting through this winter, even though we know that doubling up is better than a solo cloth mask.
Stay masked and get vaccinations.
Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infections Diseases, spoke on ABC news last week to remind everyone that getting a vaccine is the most important step you can take to stop the spread of the virus and to protect yourself and others. Experts like Marr say that having a lot of confidence in an N95 and similar types of respirators and full vaccination means that you can still go about a lot of your normal activities. Fauci says that taking masks off is not something we should be considering.
The CDC has a full guide to masking up. If you haven't already gotten your booster, make sure you do it. Here is our guide to finding and buying high-quality masks. You can get through this winter, just like you did last year, but proper masking remains a must to stay safe.
