Experts are recommending people wear N95 or surgical masks from now on because of how transmissible the Omicron variant is.
What masks are the best to wear?
The best option, if it is an option for you, is a P2 or N95 - which are respiratory masks, says Dr Lucy Telfar Barnard, senior research fellow at University of Otago’s Co-Search: Covid-19 Research Collaboration.
“These are well-tested and certified, have excellent filtration, and fit most people pretty well without too much adjustment,” she says.
Photo: NZ Safety Blackwoods
You can buy P2 or N95 masks from hardware stores like Bunnings but there are limited supplies.
Before Covid-19, P2 or N95 masks were used for protection from dust particles when doing construction. That’s why you can find them in hardware stores, not pharmacies like surgical masks. The increased demand from Covid has put pressure on these supplies.
"The Government needs to move away from its current stance on respirator masks (eg, P2 or N95) which appears to be that the public would not understand how to wear them," says Dr Amanda Kvalsvig, Epidemiologist and Senior Research Fellow at the University of Otago.
Kvalsvig says this stance denies New Zealanders wearing the most effective protection.
"Respirator masks are standard wear in many countries and there is abundant clear and straightforward advice about their use. Here is an example endorsed by the CDC."
"Even without instruction, N95-type masks tend to fit better around the face than surgical masks, which typically bunch up at the sides so they have gaps for the virus to enter," Kvalsvig says.
If you can’t access these, a surgical mask is the next best option Telfar Barnard says - but make sure it fits well.
Telfar Barnard recommends tightening the straps to get a better fit or using a well-fitting cloth mask over the top to help hold it snugly against your face.
How do I know if my mask fits properly?
“It should have a nose wire to fit into the curves around the top of your nose, and a snug seal all around your cheeks and chin. If you can feel air passing in or out somewhere around the edges, see if you can adjust the mask to fix it,” Telfar Barnard says.
To make sure you have a good fit - when you put your mask on, look in the mirror and turn your head to the side and see if there is gaping on each side. If there is, you can tie a knot close to the gape and then tuck the side down like the picture below. You can watch a tutorial here.
Photo: 'Knot and tuck' masks for better Covid protection Supplied: University of Auckland via Science Media Centre.
“For children, or people really struggling to get a good fit with a surgical, remember you can cut down a surgical mask to fit in a cloth mask filter pocket, and it can then be washed and reused,” Telfar Barnard says.
Should I stop using my cloth masks?
“Cloth masks alone, unless they’ve got a filter pocket with a good quality filter in it, won’t give you a lot of protection – though still, always, better than nothing,” Telfar Barnard says.
“So if a cloth mask is all you can access right now, then please do still wear it!”
Why were cloth masks fine before but now they are not?
“Omicron is much more infectious than previous variants,” Telfar Barnard says. “So it’s even more important that our masks really do a good job of catching the virus as we breathe it out, and stopping us from breathing in virus others might breathe out.”
“This helps in two ways. First, it helps stop the infection from happening at all. But also, dose matters - if we do get infected, if we’ve breathed in less viral particles we’ve got a better chance of a milder infection.”
I don’t want to create lots of waste by using disposable masks, can I reuse them?
“Surgical masks can be washed and reused. It’s best to wash them in hot water, without soap,” Telfar Barnard says.
Research has shown surgical masks can be washed up to 10 times. If you can, dry them out in the sun to air out any bacteria and make sure the mask is dry before you use it. Never wear a damp mask.
“N95s can’t be washed, but you can reuse them,” Telfar Barnard says. “After you wear one, set it aside for at least four days after use, and they’ll be good to use again.”
Telfar Barnard says a good option is to have one for each day of the week. You can write an initial for each day, like M for Monday, and only use that mask on Monday so you know it has been left long enough to be ready to use again.
Top image: Pensive tired young male healthcare worker looking away wearing a n95 protective face mask - stock photo // Getty Images
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