Which Mask Should You Wear Amid the Omicron Surge?

Key TakeawaysExperts say cloth masks may not offer enough protection amid the Omicron surge.Compared to cloth and surgical masks, the N95 respirator offers the most protection against COVID-19.There are plenty of tips to improve mask effectiveness such as double masking, using mask fitters, or knotting the ear loops to improve the fit.

Key Takeaways

Experts say cloth masks may not offer enough protection amid the Omicron surge.Compared to cloth and surgical masks, the N95 respirator offers the most protection against COVID-19.There are plenty of tips to improve mask effectiveness such as double masking, using mask fitters, or knotting the ear loops to improve the fit.

Early this week, anofficial statedthe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was weighing whether they should update their mask guidance to recommend switching to N95 or KN95 masks to improve protection against the Omicron variant.

But because of the Omicron surge, experts stress that cloth masks may no longer provide enough protection. It might be time to upgrade your masking routine.

Here’s how cloth, surgical, and KN95 and N95 masks compare in terms of protection against the virus.

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Mask Effectiveness Against Omicron

Wearing any mask is certainly better than nothing, but with the circulating Omicron variant, it’s important to wear an effective one that can adequately protect you.

Cloth Masks

Cloth masks are reusable face coverings that greatly vary in terms of material, fit, and quality, so it can be difficult to gauge their overall effectiveness. Some cloth masks can filter small infectious droplets and particles (less than 10 microns), while masks with multiple layers and higher thread count can filter almost 50% of fine particles that are less than 1 micron.

If you’re opting for a cloth mask, it’s important that it fits properly over your nose and mouth without any gaps around the sides of your face. Try holding it up to a bright light source to check if it has multiple layers of tightly-woven fabric. If the cloth mask doesn’t block light, or it has exhalation valves, it cannot provide protection against COVID-19.

“Many cloth masks do not provide a significant seal nor do they filter out viral particles,” Hsu said. Given the surge of the Omicron variant, it may be best to opt for a mask that can better protect you.

Surgical Masks

Surgical masks, also known as disposable or medical procedure masks, are made of non-woven fabrics with different layers. You are not supposed to wear more than one surgical mask at a time because it can ruin the fit over your face.

“Surgical masks have been shown to provide increased protection versus cloth masks,” Iahn Gonsenhauser, MD, chief quality and patient safety officer at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, told Verywell. Unlike cloth masks, stretching a surgical mask was not found to change its pore size.

A 2021 study published inSciencefound that surgical masks were more effective than cloth masks in reducing symptomatic COVID-19 infections on a community level, especially among people aged 60 years and older.

KN95 or N95 Masks

N95 masks are respirators that can filter up to 95% of particles in the air. These masks specifically meet the standards of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) for air filtration.KN95 masks are respirators that also provide up to 95% air filtration, but they meet China-specific standards.

“While they may appear similar, N95 masks are a completely different device to a surgical or isolation mask,” Gonsenhauser said. “The material and construction, as well as the fit to the face, are different in almost every way. An N95 is considered a respirator, unlike a standard mask.”

A 2020 study published inScience Advancesevaluated 14 different face masks or mask alternatives to analyze the transmission of respiratory droplets during regular speech. The researchers found that less than 0.1% of droplets were transmitted through a fitted N95 mask while the wearer was speaking.

Keep in mind that you can only use one N95 or KN95 mask at a time and should not combine it with other masks.

“Given higher infectiousness of the Omicron variant, we need a more efficient filter because fewer viral particles can result in infection than with prior variants,”Sten H. Vermund, MD, PhD, infectious disease epidemiologist and dean of the Yale School of Public Health, told Verywell. “Highly vulnerable individuals—like the unvaccinated or immunosuppressed—may opt for N95.”

Does Double-Masking Help Curb the Spread of COVID-19?

Which Mask Should You Use?

Each typehas its pros and cons depending on the situation, so it’s important to do a risk assessment when determining which mask to use, Hsu said.

“The need for added protection with the KN95 or N95 is evident in those high-risk situations that are crowded or indoors, such as being on an airplane,” he added. “But these tighter-fitting masks can also result in discomfort when worn for long periods of time. In lower-risk situations where there is a greater distance between you and others, a surgical mask may provide adequate protection.”

On social media, there is a circulating graphic taken from an article fromThe Wall Street Journalwhich compares the estimated amount of time it takes to transmit an infectious dose of COVID-19. The data used in the graphic was published in the spring of 2021, which means it doesn’t take the Omicron variant into account just yet. Experts said the chart might not be exactly accurate.

“This graphic likely underestimates the value of cloth and surgical masks,” Vermund said. The chart said it takes only one hour for an infectious person with a surgical mask to infect someone without COVID-19 who is also wearing a surgical mask. Still, Hsu emphasized that the idea behind it is correct: both people are more protected if they’re wearing higher-quality masks.

Will We Wear Face Masks Forever?

How to Improve Mask Effectiveness

There are several steps you can take to improve your mask’s fit and filtration.

Wear Double Masks

Wearing a disposable mask underneath a cloth mask that has multiple layers of fabric is a good way to increase your protection.

“If you wear a three-ply surgical mask and make it fit snugly with a two- to three-ply cloth mask over it, you might achieve the same [protection] as with a KN95,” Vermund said. “Double masking adds multi-ply protection and likely helps with tighter fit of the mask up against the skin.”

Knot the Ear Loops

Knot the ear loops of a surgical mask at that point where they meet the mask and tuck in the extra material to improve its effectiveness.

The CDC made the followingvideo guideto demonstrate how it is done correctly.

Use Mask Fitters

“Make sure your mask is comfortable and creates a tight seal,” Gonsenhauser said. “If it does not, consider using a mask fitter.”

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Trim Facial Hair

Careful fit around the facial skin is important, so those with thick beards should consider trimming their facial hair to improve mask fit, Vermund said.

Beards can make mask fitting difficult. If you choose not to double mask or use mask fitters, you can trim your facial hair or shave it altogether.

Purchase Masks From Reputable Sources

According to the CDC, about 60% of KN95 respirators in the United States are counterfeit or fake.They do not meet the requirements of the NIOSH, which means they cannot guarantee that the mask will provide the expected level of protection. The CDC recommends checking theNIOSH Certified Equipment Listto identify if your respirator is NIOSH-approved.

“Retailers had some counterfeit or substandard products slip through a few months back, but the supply chains have been strengthened now, so purchasing masks from known retail sources will ensure reasonable quality,” Vermund said.

Remember that wearing well-fitting face masks is just one part of the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. You should take other preventative measures to protect yourself and the people around you.

The information in this article is current as of the date listed, which means newer information may be available when you read this. For the most recent updates on COVID-19, visit ourcoronavirus news page.

7 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Science brief: community use of masks to control the spread of SARS-CoV-2.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Types of masks and respirators.Neupane BB, Mainali S, Sharma A, Giri B.Optical microscopic study of surface morphology and filtering efficiency of face masks.PeerJ. 2019;7:e7142. doi:10.7717/peerj.7142Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Improve how your mask protects you.Abaluck J, Kwong LH, Styczynski A, et al.Impact of community masking on COVID-19: a cluster-randomized trial in Bangladesh.Science. 2022;375(6577):eabi9069. doi:10.1126/science.abi9069Fischer EP, Fischer MC, Grass D, et al.Low-cost measurement of face mask efficacy for filtering expelled droplets during speech.Sci Adv. 2020;6(36):eabd3083. doi:10.1126/sciadv.abd3083Brooks JT, Beezhold DH, Noti JD, et al.Maximizing fit for cloth and medical procedure masks to improve performance and reduce SARS-CoV-2 transmission and exposure.MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2021;70(7);254–257. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm7007e1

7 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Science brief: community use of masks to control the spread of SARS-CoV-2.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Types of masks and respirators.Neupane BB, Mainali S, Sharma A, Giri B.Optical microscopic study of surface morphology and filtering efficiency of face masks.PeerJ. 2019;7:e7142. doi:10.7717/peerj.7142Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Improve how your mask protects you.Abaluck J, Kwong LH, Styczynski A, et al.Impact of community masking on COVID-19: a cluster-randomized trial in Bangladesh.Science. 2022;375(6577):eabi9069. doi:10.1126/science.abi9069Fischer EP, Fischer MC, Grass D, et al.Low-cost measurement of face mask efficacy for filtering expelled droplets during speech.Sci Adv. 2020;6(36):eabd3083. doi:10.1126/sciadv.abd3083Brooks JT, Beezhold DH, Noti JD, et al.Maximizing fit for cloth and medical procedure masks to improve performance and reduce SARS-CoV-2 transmission and exposure.MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2021;70(7);254–257. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm7007e1

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Science brief: community use of masks to control the spread of SARS-CoV-2.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Types of masks and respirators.Neupane BB, Mainali S, Sharma A, Giri B.Optical microscopic study of surface morphology and filtering efficiency of face masks.PeerJ. 2019;7:e7142. doi:10.7717/peerj.7142Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Improve how your mask protects you.Abaluck J, Kwong LH, Styczynski A, et al.Impact of community masking on COVID-19: a cluster-randomized trial in Bangladesh.Science. 2022;375(6577):eabi9069. doi:10.1126/science.abi9069Fischer EP, Fischer MC, Grass D, et al.Low-cost measurement of face mask efficacy for filtering expelled droplets during speech.Sci Adv. 2020;6(36):eabd3083. doi:10.1126/sciadv.abd3083Brooks JT, Beezhold DH, Noti JD, et al.Maximizing fit for cloth and medical procedure masks to improve performance and reduce SARS-CoV-2 transmission and exposure.MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2021;70(7);254–257. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm7007e1

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Science brief: community use of masks to control the spread of SARS-CoV-2.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Types of masks and respirators.

Neupane BB, Mainali S, Sharma A, Giri B.Optical microscopic study of surface morphology and filtering efficiency of face masks.PeerJ. 2019;7:e7142. doi:10.7717/peerj.7142

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Improve how your mask protects you.

Abaluck J, Kwong LH, Styczynski A, et al.Impact of community masking on COVID-19: a cluster-randomized trial in Bangladesh.Science. 2022;375(6577):eabi9069. doi:10.1126/science.abi9069

Fischer EP, Fischer MC, Grass D, et al.Low-cost measurement of face mask efficacy for filtering expelled droplets during speech.Sci Adv. 2020;6(36):eabd3083. doi:10.1126/sciadv.abd3083

Brooks JT, Beezhold DH, Noti JD, et al.Maximizing fit for cloth and medical procedure masks to improve performance and reduce SARS-CoV-2 transmission and exposure.MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2021;70(7);254–257. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm7007e1

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