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New CDC recommendations on face masks

February 17, 2021

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On Feb. 10, 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued new guidelines about wearing well-fitting face masks or two masks at a time to help curb the COVID-19 pandemic.

The updated guidance is based on new CDC research, which tested various masks in a lab setting and determined that combining a cloth mask over a surgical mask could dramatically reduce both the spread of the virus to others and exposure to the virus oneself.

The CDC’s new recommendations advise individuals to:

  • Choose a mask with a nose wired to prevent air from leaking out of the top of the mask.
  • Use a mask fitter or brace to prevent air from leaking from the sides of the mask.
  • Check that your mask fits snugly over your nose, mouth, and chin.
  • Wear a cloth mask that has multiple layers of fabric or wear a disposable mask under a cloth mask.