The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has provided the public with safety guidelines since the beginning of the pandemic. These recommendations have helped people across the country to reduce the risk of COVID infection – especially if the guidelines are followed in full. Of course, a mask will protect you, but only if you follow all the agency’s appropriate recommendations on fit, material and more. In turn, the CDC explicitly warns against six different forms of facial masks, as they are not recommended for protection against the coronavirus. Read on to find out which masks you shouldn’t wear and for more information about the agency, CDC has just provided a shocking update to the COVID vaccine.
1
Masks that do not fit properly
The CDC says that your mask needs to fit properly, which means that it should fit “comfortably around the nose and chin, without large cracks in the sides of the face”.
Leann Poston, MD, a licensed physician and health consultant at Invigor Medical, says that this is because the properly fitted masks are the only ones that effectively prevent large drops that could spread and infect someone. In addition, masks that do not fit properly require the user to frequently touch their face and masks to readjust, and “touching your face can cause infection and also increases the spread of germs when you touch other objects after touch your mask, “Poston explains. And to learn more about the limitations of the masks, if you don’t, your mask won’t protect you, says the study.
two
Masks made of materials that are difficult to breathe
Plastic and leather are two materials that the CDC wants mask users to avoid because they are difficult to breathe.
“If the mask is difficult to breathe, you will breathe around it, which negates the purpose of the mask. When you cough or sneeze, the droplets will travel around the mask or drip from the bottom surface of the mask,” says Poston. . And if your plastic or leather mask is too tight to breathe, it will not filter your breath, but will block the flow of air, which can impair your breathing. And for coronavirus symptoms to be aware, learn the first signs that you have COVID, according to Johns Hopkins.
3
Masks made of loose or knitted fabric
If your mask allows light to pass when placed in front of a light source, the CDC says it should not be used. As with masks that do not fit, masks with loose fabric or knitted fabric allow respiratory droplets to pass and infect the user, says Daniel Burnett, MD, CEO of JustAir, a company of face masks and fresh air systems.
Worse, says Burnett, the loose mesh can “break the respiratory droplets into smaller droplets that can remain in the air for a long period of time”, which can provide a longer exposure period. And for signs of coronavirus that you shouldn’t ignore, this is one of the most “easily overlooked” COVID symptoms, experts warn.
4
Masks with a layer
The CDC says that your mask must have at least two or three layers. Abisola Olulade, MD, a family medicine physician with Sharp Rees-Stealy Medical Group in California, says this is because they are more likely to filter particles than masks with just one layer. Olulade says the ideal is for his mask to have three layers: an inner layer made of water-absorbing material, a middle filter layer and an outer layer made of water-resistant material. And for the most up-to-date information, subscribe to our daily newsletter.
5
Masks with exhalation valves or vents
The CDC does not recommend masks with valves or vents because, although they can facilitate breathing, they do not help to prevent the spread of COVID. Roopa Kalyanaraman Marcello, MPH, an infectious disease specialist based in New York City, says these masks allow respiratory droplets to escape from the user, which can infect others. In fact, some cities, counties and most major US airlines have banned these masks. And for the cares you no longer need to take, find out the one thing you can stop doing to avoid COVID, according to doctors.
6
Masks that are actually a scarf or ski mask
“Scarves and other accessories for the head, such as ski masks and balaclavas used to warm up, are generally made of loose-knit fabrics that are not suitable for use as masks to prevent transmission of COVID-19,” says the CDC . According to Poston, they have the same disadvantages as an incorrectly fitting mask, as they do not actually filter the drops and most likely need frequent readjustments. However, you can use these items on your mask – you just need to wear some kind of protective mask as well. And for more essential guidance on the mask, the FDA has issued a warning against this type of face mask.