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.