What are experts saying about masks and the omicron variant?

“Omicron presents a good reason to upgrade your mask because this variant is even more transmissible than delta,” said Linsey Marr, an aerosol expert at Virginia Tech who studies airborne virus transmission. “This is especially true for older adults and those with underlying health conditions.” Well-fitted, multiple-layer cloth face coverings have become a pandemic staple, but some experts are encouraging people, particularly those who are unvaccinated, immunocompromised or otherwise at increased risk of developing severe illness, to consider using surgical masks, respirators or double-masking for better protection against omicron. Although a cloth mask is “better than nothing,” the elevated case counts and highly contagious variant mean that “at a minimum people need to be wearing surgical masks again that at least have those good three layers of protection,” Meyer said. Surgical masks also tend to fit better than cloth masks, which can leave large gaps or easily slip down, she said. Those who want to best protect themselves, or who have an increased risk of severe disease, should wear a N95 mask or equivalent medical-grade respirator, such as a KN95, or should try double-masking with a surgical and cloth covering, said Monica Gandhi, an infectious-diseases specialist and professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco.

Has the CDC changed its guidance about masks?

The CDC updated its mask guidance on Jan. 14, issuing its most explicit guidance to date on the level of protection provided by different types of face coverings. While the agency continues to emphasize the importance of correctly wearing a well-fitted mask or respirator that is “comfortable for you and that provides good protection,” the new guidance provides a ranking of masks. “Layered finely woven cloth products” are better than loosely woven cloth coverings, which offer the least protection, according to the CDC. Well-fitted disposable surgical masks and KN95s are more protective than cloth masks, but the “highest level of protection” comes from respirators approved by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, which includes N95 masks. The CDC stopped short of recommending N95s for all, but the agency did include specifics about when a person might consider using a N95 or KN95. For instance, vulnerable people and essential workers who are in environments where others might not be consistently masked should upgrade their face coverings. The agency maintains that specially labeled surgical N95s should be reserved for health care workers. Masks should be worn in indoor public spaces by people who aren’t fully vaccinated, as well as those who are vaccinated but have weakened immune systems or are in areas with substantial or high transmission. Although the CDC says masks generally don’t need to be worn outdoors, people may want to mask up if they’re in crowded outdoor settings with others who aren’t fully vaccinated.

How do I know whether I’m in an area with substantial or high transmission?

Substantial transmission is defined as 50 to 99 weekly cases per 100,000 people, while high transmission is defined as more than 100 weekly cases per 100,000, The Washington Post’s Amy Goldstein reported . As of Dec. 17, about 77 percent of U.S. counties met that definition, according to the CDC’s tracker . You can monitor transmission rates in your community by using the CDC’s tracking tools and following guidance from local public health officials.

Why do I need to wear a mask if I’m fully vaccinated?

While the “overwhelming majority” of cases reported in fully vaccinated individuals have been mild or asymptomatic, it’s important to remember that “people who are vaccinated can be a source of infection for others,” Schaffner said. Gandhi added: “Severe breakthroughs are truly happening among the vaccinated, and it’s happening among certain groups” who are at increased risk, despite vaccination. But even if you’re healthy, vaccinated and boosted, there is still a responsibility to stay masked, particularly in higher-risk situations, Schaffner said. “You don’t want to be an inadvertent transmitter. Nobody wants to be a dreaded spreader and give it to someone else," he said. “One of the things that the mask does is protect others from you if you happen to be infected, but are unaware of your infection.”

Does my child need a respirator mask?

Concerned parents should first make sure that their children are vaccinated and receive a booster shot, if eligible. Then, like adults, Meyer recommended the use of surgical masks as a “bare minimum.” “The scaling up from there in terms of which masks to wear depends on the exposure risk and the risk of severe disease," she said. For instance, if children are immunocompromised or going to be in high-risk situations, such as traveling, those would be cases in which parents may want to consider switching to smaller KN95s or double-masking, Gandhi said. The CDC guidance notes that although N95s and KN95s are available in smaller sizes, the masks are designed for adults and haven’t been tested for broad use in children.

Should I wear a respirator while traveling?

Traveling can expose you to many people whose vaccination status is unknown to you and may not be masked. In those types of public settings, Meyer said, people can only be responsible for themselves and their loved ones. “If other people are making unhealthy choices, I have to double down on what I can do,” she said. If you’re going to be on a plane, for example, Gandhi recommended adults and children use either N95s, KN95s or double-mask. The CDC’s mask guidance notes that a N95 or KN95 may be the appropriate choice for people who are using public transportation, including planes, especially if they will be in crowded spaces for long periods of time.

How do I know my mask is good?

It’s important to make sure that whichever respirator you use has markings on the product signifying that they’re authentic, according to the CDC guidance. Markings for N95s and KN95s are available online. Be aware of counterfeit models. The CDC maintains a list of NIOSH-approved respirators organized by brand. When N95s were in short supply, the Food and Drug Administration authorized some KN95s for emergency use by health-care workers, and you can refer to that list to find effective models.

How do I know my mask fits properly?

Make sure air isn’t leaking out of the top or sides of the surgical mask or respirator. If you wear glasses and the lenses fog up when you have your mask on or your eyes feel dry , that may be a sign that the mask isn’t well-fitted and exhaled air is escaping from the top. To improve the fit and protection of a surgical mask, try adjusting the nose wire, using mask braces or double-masking, among other strategies. When layering masks, it’s recommended to wear a multiple-layer cloth mask over a surgical mask. Knotting the ear loops of a single surgical mask and tucking in the sides close to the face had a similar effect to wearing a double mask, according to the CDC .

Can I use a mask with an exhalation valve?

In most cases, the CDC does not recommend masks that have exhalation valves or vents because they can allow virus particles to escape. But on a frequently asked questions webpage about personal protective equipment, the agency notes that a NIOSH-approved N95 respirator with an exhalation valve “offers the same protection to the wearer as one that does not have a valve.” More information on how to safely use an approved N95 respirator with a valve can be found on this CDC webpage .

How should I care for my mask?

Surgical masks and respirators can’t be washed, so pay attention to the state of your mask. If there’s any visible signs of wear and tear, it’s time to get a fresh one. Avoid using rubbing alcohol or disinfecting sprays to clean masks. “I have a surgical mask right in front of me, and if I were to spray that with some disinfectant, it would disintegrate,” Neysa Ernst, nurse manager in the biocontainment unit at Johns Hopkins Medicine, told The Post . How frequently you wash or change out your mask depends on use and exposures. For example, you probably don’t need to wash or get a new mask if you’re wearing it only for a quick trip to the grocery store. Between uses, store your masks carefully and in a place where they can air out. It may help to expose the mask to sunlight, but too much sun exposure could be harmful, Jade Flinn, a nurse educator for the Johns Hopkins biocontainment unit, told The Post. “We know that prolonged direct sunlight can degrade some of the plastic materials, even the foam in some of our surgical masks,” Flinn said. When handling your mask, try to avoid touching the front and make sure to wash or sanitize your hands after you come in contact with it.

What else can I do to protect myself?

It’s important to take a layered approach to safety and consider your individual risk, experts said. “We have to remember each of these interventions is like a slice of Swiss cheese,” Schaffner said. “It provides a barrier, but it has some gaps. None of them are perfect.” Vaccination is the “thickest barrier,” he said, followed by masking and social distancing. People with increased risk should take additional precautions such as avoiding crowds. Testing has also become an important tool , experts said. Schaffner recommended using tests ahead of gatherings to reduce the risk that someone attending may be carrying the virus. “It depends on how careful you really want to be in these circumstances, but you have to be mindful it’s not just you accepting risk,” he said. “It’s the fact that there are others around you who will have to accept risk also — even if it’s low.”

Well+Being

Masks and covid-19: Explaining the latest guidance

By Allyson Chiu

December 17, 2021 at 9:08 p.m. EST

A Los Angeles mall food court on July 19. (Etienne Laurent/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock)

The rapidly increasing number of coronavirus cases and breakneck pace of the omicron variant as it spreads across the nation have prompted health experts to reemphasize the importance of wearing masks to help slow the spread of the disease and protect the vulnerable. Some states have reinstated mask mandates in indoor public spaces in response to rising case counts.

Public health agencies continue to highlight vaccination, including booster shots for people who are eligible, as the first line of defense against the omicron variant. Meanwhile, some experts are also recommending that people not only resume wearing masks, but that they also consider upgrading cloth masks to surgical masks, and, in certain cases, respirators, even if they are vaccinated.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently updated its guidance on masks, noting that N95 respirators offer the most protection against omicron while “loosely woven cloth products” offer the least. Additionally, President Biden announced on Jan. 13 that free, high-quality face masks would be made available to all Americans.

CDC says N95 masks offer far better protection than cloth masks against omicron variant

“It’s time in many places in the country that we mask up again,” said Jaimie Meyer, an infectious-disease physician at the Yale School of Medicine. “We need those extra layers of protection that we didn’t necessarily need as much a couple months ago, when levels of virus that were circulating were relatively low.”

William Schaffner, medical director of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, agreed: “Given the contagiousness of this virus, I think we should get that mask back out of our drawer and put it on, particularly when we’re going indoors to group activities where there are congregations of people.”

Some people are catching coronavirus after being vaccinated. Johns Hopkins University infectious disease expert Lisa Maragakis gives advice on how to stay safe. (Video: John Farrell/The Washington Post)

Below we’ve compiled answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about masks and how to use them in this latest phase of pandemic life. These recommendations are drawn from guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, previously published Washington Post articles and new interviews with experts specializing in infectious diseases, public health and air quality.

Please keep in mind that as the coronavirus, its variants and vaccines continue to be studied and understood, masking advice is likely to change.

Is it the cold, the flu or covid? What to know amid rapid spread of omicron

Coronavirus: What you need to know

Where do things stand? See the latest covid numbers in the U.S. and across the world. In the U.S., pandemic trends have shifted and now White people are more likely to die from covid than Black people.

The state of public health: Conservative and libertarian forces have defanged much of the nation’s public health system through legislation and litigation as the world staggers into the fourth year of covid.

Grief and the pandemic: A Washington Post reporter covered the coronavirus — and then endured the death of her mother from covid-19. She offers a window into grief and resilience.

Would we shut down again? What will the United States do the next time a deadly virus comes knocking on the door?

Vaccines: The CDC recommends that everyone age 5 and older get an updated covid booster shot. New federal data shows adults who received the updated shots cut their risk of being hospitalized with covid-19 by 50 percent. Here’s guidance on when you should get the omicron booster and how vaccine efficacy could be affected by your prior infections.

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