What Are The Best Face Masks Against The COVID-19 Omicron Variant?
As more and more people from around the world are contracting the highly contagious COVID-19 omicron variant, it’s time to reconsider your choice of face masks.
Omicron is much more transmissible than other coronavirus variants. It spreads at least three times faster than the previous COVID-19 variant, Delta. Therefore it’s important to use high quality face masks to best protect yourself and people around you.
Wearing a mask can save your life, and the lives of your loved ones. Face masks provide a much needed additional layer of protection in situations where it’s not possible for you to maintain adequate physical distance, and in rooms with poor ventilation. It is important to choose your mask correctly, based on its effectiveness against the coronavirus and the environment you are in.
Since COVID-19 spreads from person to person mainly through respirator droplets released into the air by speaking, coughing or sneezing, it is important that the mask fits well. You should always wear the mask over your nose and mouth. The best practice is to wear a face mask that has at least two layers of breathable fabric, fits perfectly, has a nose wire, and completely covers the nose and mouth. Even if you are fully vaccinated, it is recommended that you wear a face mask in places where social distancing is difficult.
Any face mask is better than wearing no mask at all. There are different types of face masks and respirators that you can use to protect yourself and others from getting as well as spreading COVID-19. A good face mask offers protection against all the variants of COVID-19. Some masks are better than the others, especially against the omicron variant. Here’s all you need to know:
Are Cloth Masks Effective Against Omicron?
Unfortunately, No!
Cloth masks have been a popular choice since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Although cloth masks are effective against other coronavirus variants, they do not prevent the spread of omicron.
“Cloth masks are not going to cut it with omicron,” says Linsey Marr, a researcher at Virginia Tech who studies how viruses transmit in the air.
It’s time to retire your cloth mask and upgrade to better ones in the fight against omicron.
Surgical Masks
Surgical masks are loose-fitting face masks that are easily available in convenience stores these days. These blue disposable masks, which are attached around the ears with elastic and cover nose and mouth, are designed to protect others against any large respiratory droplets emitted by the wearer. The primary function of a surgical mask is to prevent the wearer from spreading infectious droplets to others.
Although surgical masks offer less protection than N95 respirators and KN95 masks, they are still helpful in catching respiratory droplets. As surgical masks are used by healthcare workers and are a part of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), their production is regulated and the level of protection they offer against the virus is more consistent than cloth masks.
N95 Respirators and KN95 Masks
According to experts, wearing an N95 respirator is the best option against omicron and other COVID-19 variants, especially if in a crowd. These disposable face masks filter out at least 95% of airborne particles, which makes them the most protective face masks. An N95 mask is designed to protect healthcare workers from droplets in the air.
However, N95 face masks are not easily available. N95 respirators should be reserved for healthcare workers and first responders. Health care workers undergo a fit-test to find the right size and fit of these respirators so as to ensure a tight seal.
A good alternative to the N95 mask is the KN95 mask. KN95 masks are also designed to filter at least 95% of airborne particles, and they’re made from the same material as N95 masks.
To sum it up, the N95 respirators and KN95 face masks offer the best protection against the all the variants of COVID-19, including the omicron variant. If you are unable to get these masks, then you can opt for surgical masks. Just make sure that you don’t use cloth masks, as they do not provide proper protection against omicron variant of the virus.
Face masks combined with other preventive measures like maintaining physical distance, getting vaccinated, washing your hands frequently, avoiding crowds, keeping rooms well-ventilated, and coughing into a bent elbow or tissue can help to slow the spread of coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) that causes COVID-19.