Upgrade Your Face Mask; Omicron is Everywhere
Cloth masks prove not as safe
Putting aside the debatable issue of face masks, these facial covering remain a very important and personal tool to reduce risk of spreading or contracting Covid 19.
It has been over two years into this potentially lethal virus. It may be time to upgrade our masks.
Three types of masks:
Cloth masks it turns out, were really never good protection for airborne viruses. And less so for the easily transmissible Delta and Omicron strain.
Surgical masks of medical grade quality, when worn well fitted across the face are better than cloth.
N95s or KN95s provide the best protection against airborne particles. These masks are comfortable and widely available from U.S. manufacturers.
You should be wearing masks like N95s and KN95s. The transmission of the virus is mainly through particles that float around in the air. These aerosols are not filtered well with cloth masks.
It is the melt-blown polypropylene that you find in surgical masks and N95s that is able to stop these particles. This material forms a complex type of webbing that is electrostatically charged. It pulls particles in while you are inhaling and exhaling. Cloth masks do not provide this protection.
The CDC has decided to allow people who have tested positive for COVID-19 to stop isolating after five days. And to continue to wear a mask for an additional five days.
Perhaps it is time to suggest a mask upgrade.
