IT'S TIME TO UP YOUR MASK GAME- NPR

[appalachiablue]

- It's Time To Up Your Mask Game, *Updated August 12, 2021. > This story originally ran in Feb. It's been updated throughout to reflect new developments & the latest science.

With delta surging and health officials urging indoor mask use in many places, you've likely pulled out your old cloth masks. But it may be time for an upgrade. "Masks still work, but with delta, we need better-performing masks," says Linsey Marr, a researcher at Virginia Tech who studies airborne virus transmission.

The delta variant transmits more than twice as easily as the original strain of the coronavirus. It's now one of the most contagious respiratory viruses we know of.

And it also replicates quickly in the noses and throats of infected people, so they could be walking around with 1,000 times more virus in their body than with the original strain. All of that means it's imperative that you make sure your mask is protective, and not simply a bedazzled decoration for your face.

So what makes a high-performing mask? Marr says a mask's filtration efficiency is a function of both what material it's made of and how well it seals to your face. So whatever you do, make sure there are no gaps under cheeks or chin where the virus could sneak in.

Read on for more tips on how to seriously boost the protection your face mask offers.

1. Consider N95s and KN95s: Some public health experts have suggested that the spread of delta calls for donning more seriously protective masks like the gold standard of protection, N95 respirators, which block out at least 95% of particles when worn correctly. The good news is N95s are plentiful these days.

2. Wear 2 masks:...

- Read More,
https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2021/02/03/962197192/5-hacks-to-make-your-face-mask-more-protective
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- *READ: CDC- Improve How Your Mask Protects You, April 6, 2021,
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/effective-masks.html

- Where To Buy N95, KN95 Face Masks To Upgrade Your Covid Protection,
https://www.cleveland.com/coronavirus/2021/01/where-to-buy-n95-kn95-face-masks-to-upgrade-your-coronavirus-protection.html

[Merlot]

1. I'm back to double masking and am considering buying the N95

though I don't spend much time indoors. I've mastered the art of getting in and out of stores n loss than 10 minutes, 15 if there aren't many other customers.

[appalachiablue]

2. All of that & I try to visit stores early if possible

so there are likely less germs around! 15 min. limit inside.

[Merlot]

3. oh yes, I'm first in in the mornings too.

[Moebym]

4. I've more masks than one person will ever need

My haul includes KN95s, N95s, KF94s, cloth masks with filter pockets, simple two-layer cloth masks as covers, and reusable filters.

I've had as many as five layers on at once without having trouble breathing.

Can't be too careful.