Masks Provide Protection Both Ways

Face masks have become a regular part of daily life during the COVID-19 pandemic in Kentucky and Indiana as they are mandated.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommended people don’t wear masks at all at one point. Later, mask-wearing was only recommended for people with the virus or symptoms of the virus to help curb the virus. In its latest evolution, the CDC now says there is new evidence that shows face masks offer protection for the wearer as well.

In simpler terms, wearing a mask can help protect you from getting COVID-19. Previous guidance suggested that masks only helped prevent further spread of the virus for those who already had it.

The CDC also goes into further detail about which face masks work best. The author explains that masks with multiple cloth layers and higher thread counts demonstrated “superior performance” compared to masks with single cloth layers and lower thread counts.

Masks with vents or masks made of difficult to breathe through fabrics, like vinyl, are not recommended. The CDC also warns against using masks “intended” for healthcare workers like N95 respirators or surgical masks.

While some studies have disavowed the use of neck gaiters as “worse than no mask at all,” the CDC does not. It simply recommends gaiters be two layers thick or folded to be two layers.
Source: WAVE