Watch the video, read the text further below, or download the flyer at the bottom.
Here are 7 things people misunderstand about masks:
- Masks partially reduce the risk of infection; N99 more than N95, N95 more than surgical, surgical more than cloth, and cloth more than none. Wear better masks when visiting riskier environments. Use N95s to visit crowded, poorly ventilated indoor locations such as subway stations. Consider wearing N99 masks when visiting a hospital or in the presence of an infected person. Cloth masks work poorly and should be avoided if possible, but even a cloth mask is better than no mask.
- Masks work even though their holes are larger than the virus because they trap it using electrostatic charge, and because by slowing the flow of air when sneezing or coughing, they restrict the distance the virus travels, giving more time for aeration to disperse it.
- Masks should be comfortable. Just like shoes, you might need to try a few models before finding one that’s comfortable for you. Adjust the elastic straps so that they still press the mask against your face but without causing pain to your ears, and Bend the metal wire on top of your mask so that it fits the shape of your nose.
- While professionals exposed to high-risk situations should receive training on how to fit-test their masks, everyone can fit their masks relatively well even without professional training, and even a poorly-fit mask is more effective than no mask.
- While professionals exposed to high-risk situations should replace their masks daily, most people can reuse their masks – for example, buying five masks a month and rotating between them daily is a reasonable trade-off (keep them dry, though). A reused mask is better than no mask.
- Covid is an airborne virus, which means that the risk of touching your mask and then touching your nose or mouth is unlikely to cause you to get infected, and anyway, the risk of that happening is lower than the risk of not using a mask and inhaling the virus unfiltered.
- Covid is airborne, meaning it lingers in the air for a few hours. Wear a good mask before entering poorly ventilated rooms that might have been recently occupied by an infected person (e.g., elevators).
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