Wearing a face mask is one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of the virus. Other important measures are practicing physical distancing and washing your hands frequently with soap and water or using hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
Should I wear a face mask or cover for coronavirus protection?
Yes, if you are in a public place where you will encounter other people, you should wear a mask. Face masks help contain respiratory droplets that can transmit SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, from people who do not know they have the virus.
For example, when inside an office, store, restaurant, or school, or when on public transportation, you should wear a mask. The only exceptions are times when you are alone or with your family, such as if you are in your office with the door closed or in your car.
When you are outdoors walking or exercising near others, it is also important to wear a mask.
Can wearing a face mask prevent coronavirus from spreading?
Yes, face masks help prevent the spread of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. If you are infected with the coronavirus and do not know it, a mask is very good at keeping your respiratory droplets and particles from infecting others. A mask can also be somewhat effective in preventing germs from getting into your nose and mouth that come from another person’s respiratory droplets.
Some people who have COVID-19 only experience mild symptoms or none at all, and they can spread the coronavirus to others before they realize they have it. They may think they have allergies, a cold, or the flu. The coronavirus can spread through droplets and particles released into the air by speaking, singing, coughing, or sneezing — that is why masks are now required or recommended in most indoor public places.
Wearing a mask is especially important to protect people around you who have risk factors for severe consequences of COVID-19. These include people over age 65 and those living with heart disease, diabetes, obesity, chronic lung disease, immunity problems, or cancer.
What’s the right way to wear a face mask?
Your mask should cover your face from the bridge of your nose to under your chin. It should be loose-fitting but secure enough to stay in place. Make sure you can talk with your mask on and that it doesn’t irritate you, so you are not tempted to touch it or pull it out of place, which could limit its effectiveness or put you at risk from touching your face.
Learn more about how to properly wear a face mask.
How effective are neck gaiters and bandanas in stopping the spread of the coronavirus? Are masks with valves OK?
None of these three types of face coverings works as well as a proper face mask. A good mask has a double layer of washable, breathable fabric that helps keep the wearer from spreading potentially infected droplets into the air. A bandanna tied around the face does not work as well as a mask because it is open at the bottom. A gaiter (a tube of thin, stretchy knit fabric that can be worn around the neck and pulled up to cover the nose and mouth) is usually too thin to provide adequate protection. Likewise, masks with exhalation valves can allow your droplets to escape into the air.
What type of face mask should I buy?
Look for a mask made with at least two layers of fabric. It should cover your nose and mouth without large gaps. The mask should have ear loops or ties so you can adjust it. For people who wear glasses, look for a mask with a bendable border at the top so you can mold the mask to fit the bridge of your nose and prevent your glasses from fogging. Professional masks should be reserved for health care workers caring for patients on the front lines.
Can I make my own cloth mask?
Yes. Johns Hopkins Medicine offers directions for making a homemade adult mask and a child-size mask for use in non-patient-care settings. Masks can be made out of cotton or linen fabric. Cloth masks can and should be washed daily.
What items in my closet can I use to create a face mask?
- Thick, densely woven cotton fabrics are best, such as quilting cotton or cotton sheets.
- Stretchy knits aren’t ideal. Hold the fabric up to the light — the fewer tiny holes you can see, the better it will work to filter your droplets.
- Overall, making a good mask involves finding a balance. You want a fabric that doesn’t allow droplets to pass through while ensuring you can breathe properly with your mask in place.
What is a face shield?
A face shield is a piece of rigid, clear plastic attached to a headband. The plastic piece covers the face, extending to below the chin.
You might have seen face shields on some health care providers, even before the COVID-19 pandemic. Dentists and dental hygienists sometimes wear them when working close to patients’ mouths. Doctors, nurses, and technologists might use face shields, together with face masks, when performing procedures that could propel blood or other substances into the air.
Should I wear a face shield?
In general, if you wear a mask and maintain physical distancing of at least 6 feet between you and other people when in public places, you do not need a face shield. Wearing a mask will help contain your respiratory droplets. Avoid close contact with anyone who is not wearing a mask. If you must be in close contact with someone not wearing a mask, a face shield, or another type of eye protection may provide some additional protection from virus transmission.
What masks should COVID-19 patients and their caregivers wear?
People with COVID-19 should self-isolate, and they should wear a surgical or cloth mask when they cannot avoid being around others. If a person who is ill is unable to wear a mask, the caregiver should wear eye protection (along with a mask).
Patients being treated in hospital settings will follow hospital guidelines.
What are the different types of face masks?
Cloth or Paper Masks
These masks help slow the spread of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 and help keep people who unknowingly have the virus from transmitting it to others. Thick, densely woven cotton are good materials for cloth masks.
Procedural and Surgical Masks
These are loose-fitting masks designed to cover the mouth and nose.
Do surgical masks protect against the coronavirus?
Although they are not close fitting, blue disposable masks are fluid resistant and provide some protection from larger respiratory droplets from coughs and sneezes. Primarily, they help prevent the wearer from spreading infectious droplets to others. Like N95 respirators, these masks are used by health care workers whose safety depends on an adequate supply. They cannot be washed.
Professional Respirators
Called N95 respirators, these medical devices help prevent exposure to tiny droplets that can be suspended in the air. Health care workers who wear them undergo a fit-test to find the right make, model and size to ensure a tight seal. N95 respirators should be reserved for health care providers and first responders.