Now, almost two years into the fight against COVID-19, face coverings have become a necessary addition to our everyday wardrobe. Along with proper hand washing and social distancing, their use has helped to prevent the spread of COVID-19. As the pandemic goes on and the effort to get people vaccinated continues, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued additional guidance about face coverings. Importantly, the CDC now clarifies that while some outdoor, unmasked activity is relatively safe, both unvaccinated and vaccinated individuals should continue masking when indoors to protect themselves and others from the highly contagious Delta variant.
Krystina Woods, MD, Hospital Epidemiologist, Medical Director of Infection Prevention, and Deputy Chief Medical Officer at Mount Sinai West, explains the care and use of masks over the long haul and why those vaccinated against COVID-19 still need to mask up.
Why is it important that vaccinated people continue to wear face coverings?
We now know that vaccinated people can both become infected with COVID-19 and pass it on to others. And because of that, in certain settings, it is extremely important for even vaccinated people to wear masks.
Is it still less risky to be unmasked while outdoors? If so, why?
When you’re outdoors, there’s better ventilation. So, for example, if there is someone nearby who has been infected with COVID-19, the amount of virus can be diluted by all the freely moving air, making it less likely that others will be infected.
It is also important to remember that part of the thinking about being unmasked outdoors is that you’re unmasked while still being socially distant. If you are in a really, really large crowd; the protection is not going to be as good. You are much safer choosing to take your mask off outdoors if you have the ability to have a little bit of distancing.
So, being unmasked when on an early morning walk through a sparsely populated Prospect Park is okay, but if you’re window shopping on the weekend on a packed street in SoHo, throw on a face covering.
If my risk of severe illness is low, why should I continue to take precautions once I am fully vaccinated?
We need to continue to be careful. You don’t always know what the health problems are of those around you and, there’s a certain amount of civic responsibility that we have to each other.
None of us live completely isolated and, over the last 18 months, we’ve all felt what it is like to have to isolate ourselves from those we care about. So, we need to be careful about the fact that there are still people who have not gotten vaccinated, those who are not eligible for vaccination—like children—, and those who are otherwise vulnerable—like the elderly and immunocompromised. We have a duty to protect those amongst us who do not have the protection of vaccination.
Should I upgrade to a better face mask?
I wouldn’t see this as a necessity. The most important thing is that the face mask is multi-layered and fits well. If you are using a cloth mask, it is a good idea to double mask by using a surgical mask underneath the cloth mask. In place of that, a regular surgical mask is sufficient. However, if someone feels more comfortable wearing an N95 or its international equivalent (the KN95 or KF94), they certainly can—just make sure the masks are legitimate. The CDC has advice on how to identify counterfeit masks.
How do I know if my face mask has a proper fit?
Your mask should not fall off of your nose as you’re talking and it should fully cover your nose and the mouth. Additionally, it should not have large gaps around the perimeter of the mask—around the sides or the top and bottom. And, you should be able to tolerate wearing the mask for an extended period of time without feeling uncomfortable.
How should I take care of my cloth face masks?
Reusable masks should be washed at least daily, by hand or in your regular washing machine. And you can put them in the dryer, or hang them up to dry. If you have a disposable face mask, throw it away after wearing it once. And always wash your hands after handling or touching a used mask. The CDC has a lot more information about masking here.