A year into
the pandemic, many experts advise that you upgrade your masks to protect
yourself against more contagious variants of the coronavirus.
اضافة اعلان
The good
news is there are now more mask options to choose from. Here’s what to know.
An N95 mask
filters out 95 percent of 0.3 micron particles, the hardest size to trap. But
many people don’t wear N95s correctly, making them less effective. N95s are hard
to find, and counterfeits are common. Avoid N95s with respirator valves, which
expel your germs onto others.
The KN95,
made in China, also claims to filter 95 percent of hard-to-trap particles. It
has ear loops instead of head straps, so it may not fit as snugly. The mask
supply chain is also riddled with counterfeit KN95s, which may work only about
as well as a cloth mask.
The KF94 is
a top pick among health experts for its quality, high filtration rate and snug
fit, with top and bottom flaps, and a moldable nose bridge. It can be easier to
speak wearing a KF94.
Make sure
yours is made in South Korea, where quality control efforts make counterfeits
less likely.
A
rectangular surgical mask is made from pleated synthetic
fabric that expands to fit around your face.
It can trap
60 to 80 percent of particles in the lab, but in the real world, gaps around
the edges make surgical masks less effective. You can improve the fit by
knotting the ear loops.
Studies show
that a two-layer cloth mask with a third layer of filter material
is the best nonmedical mask. But filtration rates vary depending on the fabric.
Hold it to the window to see how much light sneaks through.
Pro tip:
Straps tied around the head create a tighter fit than ear loops.
Double
masking is an
easy way to upgrade a favorite cloth mask. Just wear a cloth mask over any type
of medical mask to help seal gaps around the edges and add another layer of
protection.
Remember,
any face covering is better than nothing, and the best mask is the one you will
wear consistently.
.jpg)
.jpg)
