Do's & Don'ts for Face Masks this Holiday Season
The Best Kind of Mask
The best mask is one you will wear properly. It should be comfortable and cover the nose and the chin without slipping. Whether it ties at the back of the head or loops over the ears with elastic is not important, as long as it stays in place. A mask that requires constant adjustment can be unsafe. If you are continually touching your face to keep your mask from slipping and your hands are contaminated, you can inadvertently expose yourself to the virus. Wearing a mask properly can act as a conscious reminder not to touch your eyes, nose, or mouth.
A double layer of cotton will catch almost all respiratory droplets. Wearing a thick, heavy mask in the summer is not practical or necessary. Disposable masks are also an option, but they should be thrown away after use. Unless you are a front-line health care worker, you do not need an N95 mask -- a filtering face piece respirator.
Clean Your Mask Daily
A cloth mask should be washed and dried after each use. Because the virus cannot live for more than a week on cloth surfaces, an alternative is to make or buy seven masks -- one for each day of the week. Wash your hands before you take your mask off. Use the straps or elastic bands to remove it; then wash your hands again. This practice helps to guard against spreading contamination from your hands or the mask to your face.
Face Masks Slow the Spread of Virus
The coronavirus is spread through respiratory droplets in the air or on surfaces. Wearing a face mask helps to prevent the virus from entering the air where it can be inhaled by others. People who are infected may have no symptoms or mild symptoms that they mistake for a cold or allergies. If they sneeze, cough, clear their throats, or even speak, they can spread the virus to others. Masks trap the virus droplets in their fibers. When combined with physical distancing and frequent hand washing, face masks help prevent people from unknowingly spreading the virus.
Together We Can Make a Difference
Wearing a mask is a way to show support for everyone else in our community. “Lead by example by wearing one. You want to be visibly someone who's respectful of others around you.” Together, we can make a difference and limit the spread of COVID-19 in our communities.
