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Fearing about Covid-19 variants across the country, many people are supplementing the supply of disposable masks to wear outdoors. Unlike the demand for masks when the pandemic started, shoppers now have many choices, such as reusable cloth masks, disposable masks and respirators (such as N95 and KN95).

Experts say that perhaps the most important thing to remember is that wearing a mask is better than not wearing it.

Mark Alain Déry, an epidemiologist and director of infectious disease medicine at Access Health Louisiana, said: "In addition to maintaining social distancing, wearing a mask is undoubtedly the most effective mechanism to prevent the spread of the virus."

When someone talks about disposable masks, they usually refer to one of three different types: medical-grade disposable masks, non-medical-grade disposable masks or respirators. We discussed with our experts the differences between these types of disposable masks, who should wear them and how to buy them. We also focused on the options for children and adults based on guidance from our experts, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Food and Drug Administration.

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What medical-grade and non-medical-grade disposable masks and respirators have in common is that they are designed as disposable masks-after being worn, or when it becomes dirty or contaminated, it enters the trash.

However, this does not actually mean that you have to throw them away after one use. For example, depending on the mask and the wearing time, if the mask is removed and stored correctly, it can be worn multiple times as long as it is not wet or contaminated.

For disposable masks, CDC recommends wearing models with the following characteristics:

In addition to CDC's guidance, experts we interviewed said that you can also look for masks with moisture wicking and antibacterial linings. They mentioned that you should not think too much about the price point, because more expensive disposable masks do not guarantee better protection.

Jay Woody, MD, Chief Medical Officer of Intuitive Health and co-founder of Legacy ER & Urgent Care, pointed out that it is important to remember that “although all surgical masks are considered masks, not all masks are considered surgical masks. ." When shopping, please check the label on the box to distinguish between medical grade and non-medical grade to ensure that you are buying the product that suits your needs.

According to Déry, medical-grade disposable masks are better at protecting others than cloth masks if the person wearing the mask is infected.

"There have been many studies focusing on the efficacy of disposable masks," Déry said. "As far as N95 and three-layer surgical masks are concerned, they perform best in terms of virus inhalation and exhalation."

On the other hand, regardless of whether it is medical or not, disposable masks will generate more waste because they cannot be worn repeatedly. In addition, supply may be limited, depending on the local Covid surge and shortage of masks in medical facilities. And because you have to keep buying new disposable masks, they may end up being more expensive.

Medical-grade disposable masks are regulated by the FDA and must meet strict standards before they can be regarded as medical devices. According to the CDC, medical-grade masks are also called surgical masks or medical procedure masks. They are different from N95 respirators, which are supervised by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health.

The FDA states that the edges of surgical masks are “not designed to form a seal around the nose and mouth.” These masks filter out large particles—particles larger than the very small particles that may be spread in the air by coughing or sneezing—and protect The wearer’s nose and mouth are protected from splashes or sprays that may contain bacteria, said DO Jenny Ken Carre, chief medical officer and co-founder of PhysicianOne Urgent Care in the northeast.

In order to compensate for the loose fit of surgical masks, CDC recommends folding and folding methods or the use of fixators or brackets, such as Fix the Mask.

The experts we consulted did not specifically recommend medical-grade disposable masks to the general public, except for high-risk groups. The World Health Organization defines them as people over 60 years old or suffering from chronic respiratory diseases, cancer and other basic diseases and obesity. However, unlike when the pandemic started, medical-grade disposable masks are easier to obtain, so if you are interested in buying them, you can find them at retailers such as Amazon and Walmart or pharmacies such as CVS.

The FDA does not maintain a list of surgical mask suppliers. However, when you buy medical-grade disposable masks, Linsey Marr, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Virginia Tech, says to look for products that are labeled as meeting ASTM Level 1, 2 or 3 standards.

"This means that the mask can filter out at least 95% of particles of various sizes, and at least 98% of level 2 and 3," she said.

Marr said that if you want to buy medical-grade disposable masks, the difference between ASTM 1, 2 and 3 “may not be important for daily use, because fit is more important.” In other words, she said , A leaking surgical mask-a mask that doesn't fit your face and has gaps on the sides and top-is ineffective.

Since we do not test masks ourselves, we rely on expert guidance and our previous reports on how to buy masks. CDC advises anyone who buys a mask to look for a multi-layered and adjustable nose line. Experts tell us to ensure that the mask fits tightly on the face. The following masks list features that are consistent with our research and are highly rated.

These surgical masks are in a box of 50 and are designed with a three-layer non-woven fabric. They have adjustable nose bridges and ear hooks.

These surgical masks are made of three layers of fabric, with adjustable nose bridges and ear hooks. They are packed in a box of 50 masks and are also available in black and children's sizes.

Kenkare said that non-medical grade disposable masks look like surgical masks, but they are not regulated by the FDA because they are not suitable for medical environments.

"There are many kinds of them, [are] fitting and filtering of different qualities," she said.

According to several experts, they usually have a two-layer or three-layer structure and are recommended for the general public rather than medical-grade masks. Ellen Turner, MD, an infectious disease physician and adjunct professor at the Drexel University School of Medicine in Philadelphia, said that if they are available in your area, they are a good choice for the public.

We do not test masks ourselves, so we rely on expert guidance and our previous reports on how to buy masks. CDC recommends multi-layer and adjustable nose masks. Experts tell us to ensure that the masks purchased by shoppers can fit the face tightly. The following masks-some of which appeared in our previous reports-list features that are consistent with our research and are highly rated.

You can purchase a pack of 25 to 2,000 CandyCare disposable masks. They consist of three layers of fabric, an adjustable nose bridge and ear hooks.

CASETiFY's disposable masks are made of three layers of fabric, latex-free and hypoallergenic. The mask has an adjustable nose bridge and ear hooks. The noodles have a variety of colors, such as mushrooms (naked), ferns (dark green), and cobalt (blue). The mask is packed in compostable packaging.

Evolvetogether's disposable masks are available in a pack of 7 or 30, and are available in Tokyo (gray), Amazon (green) and Milan (black) colors. They are designed with three layers of fabric and can adjust the bridge of the nose and ear hooks. The mask is equipped with two mask holders, which you can use to store the mask when you are not wearing it. The packaging of the mask is made of biodegradable and recyclable materials.

These masks are available in black, blue and white. You can buy them in packs of 50 to 1,000. They are designed with three layers of non-woven fabric, adjustable nose bridge and ear hooks.

MASKC's disposable masks provide three layers of fabric, adjustable nose bridge and ear hooks. There are 10 masks in a pack, with colors such as midnight (black) and Tuscany (pearl powder), as well as a variety of packaging and a variety of patterns.

These masks are made of three layers of non-woven fabrics, with adjustable nose bridges and elastic ear hooks. You can buy 50 or 100 sets, and colors from black to pink. The mask also has patterns, individual packaging options, and child sizes.

WeCare's disposable masks are individually packaged. They are made of three layers of non-woven fabric and have an adjustable nose bridge. You can buy a pack of 50 masks in colors and prints (such as black, red and Jaguar).

WellBefore disposable masks can be purchased with ear loops, adjustable ear loops or adjustable headbands. They are made of three layers of fabric and have adjustable nose bars. The masks are available in blue and black, and you can order as little as 10 to more than 1,000 masks. The masks are individually packaged.

In addition to medical and non-medical masks, there are also respirators, the most famous of which include N95 and KN95. According to the FDA, they are "designed to achieve a very tight facial fit and very effective filtration of airborne particles." The respirator is manufactured in accordance with the standards of a specific country/region and is supervised by the regulatory agency of a specific country/region.

For example, N95 is regulated by NIOSH. The N95 name means that they have been proven to filter out 95% of bacteria, viruses and 0.3 micron particles in the air. However, please don’t worry about this measurement-the CDC has repeatedly emphasized that masks like N95 are equally effective at capturing smaller particles (such as the Covid virus about 0.1 micron), which are usually carried on larger Droplets on. In other words, the claims that masks are useless against the coronavirus are completely wrong on social media that are often reposted.

NIOSH also has P95 and R95 grades. They are used for industrial purposes. If you are just seeking medical protection, you don't need to worry. Other N levels include N99 and N100, although N95 is the only Covid protection level that most people need to consider.

Standards in other countries and regions include European FFP2 (the corresponding version of N95 in the United States) and KN95 (Chinese version). The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved several KN95 models for temporary use by medical personnel at the beginning of the pandemic, but withdrew the emergency authorization in July 2021 when U.S.-made respirators were no longer in short supply.

You can read more about respirators and who should wear them in our KN95 mask guide.

Like reusable cloth masks, disposable masks protect people around the wearer by preventing virus particles from entering the air, thereby reducing the chances of people infected with Covid from spreading the virus. Karl Fichtenbaum, MD, explained the hospital Professor of Clinical Medicine at the University of Cincinnati School of Medicine. To some extent, they also help protect the wearer's breath. And the mask prevents the wearer from touching the contaminated surface and then touching their eyes, mouth or nose, Woody said.

Since non-medical-grade disposable masks are not regulated by the FDA, there is no uniform design standard, but most have at least two layers.

However, medical-grade masks are regulated by the FDA and comply with specific standards. The outer layer is usually waterproof to prevent large water droplets, the middle layer usually has an antibacterial filter, and the inner layer is designed to absorb the moisture in our breath and minimize skin irritation, said Manisha Singal, MD, the board of directors accredited Bridgepoint Hospital in Washington, DC Physician and Chief Medical Officer, where she worked as an intensive care physician.

There is no doubt that masks help reduce the risk of virus transmission. A study released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in February found that between two people wearing masks or double masks, the risk of one person contracting the virus to the other was reduced by more than 95%.

Although Americans 12 years and older can now use highly effective Covid vaccines and booster injections, the CDC recommends that even people who are fully vaccinated still wear masks in indoor public places or crowded outdoor places where there is a large or high transmission rate. , Or if they have an underlying medical condition. Everyone, whether vaccinated or not, must wear a mask in public transportation or transportation hubs anywhere in the United States, but you can take off the mask in open areas (such as the outer deck of a ferry).

Although it is natural to worry about the degree of protection that masks provide you in the first place, as many such studies collected by the CDC have proven, wearing masks can also protect others. Because you can not show symptoms of the coronavirus and still spread it, you need to wear a mask to reduce the possibility of spreading Covid to people who may actually get sick or spread it to other people, leading to increased transmission of the virus . Therefore, according to the CDC, for example, in shopping malls or large outdoor music festivals, you should wear a mask no matter how you feel or whether you are worried about being infected.

Unless you wear it correctly, a mask will not protect you or the people around you. The CDC pointed out that in order to be effective, a mask must completely cover your mouth and nose and fit tightly to your face to prevent gaps on the sides of the mask, around the nose and chin.

The fit of all masks is different. For example, respirators such as N95 and KN95 are designed to form a seal around the mouth and nose, while reusable cloths and disposable masks are generally looser. Features such as adjustable ear hooks and adjustable nose bridge can help you improve the fit of your mask, as can mask fitters or braces. When you put on a disposable mask, the knotting and folding method can also make it more tightly worn.

Another way to improve the fit of some masks is to use a double-layer mask-wear a disposable mask under a reusable cloth mask. It should be noted that the CDC recommends that you do not wear double masks when wearing masks, nor should you wear two disposable masks.

For people with beards, it is particularly recommended to use fitters or braces or double shielding, which may make it difficult to achieve a close fit. If you wear glasses, if your lenses start to fog, an obvious sign is that the top of your mask is not tight enough.

Keep in mind that damp, dirty or contaminated masks are usually less effective, so it is important to wash reusable masks regularly. If you are wearing a disposable mask, replace it when it gets wet or visibly dirty. As with all masks, be sure to remove them from your face correctly: remove them with a strap and wash your hands immediately.

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Zoe Malin is a digital editor intern for NBC News Select.

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