In fact, if you’re not sick or taking care of people who are, wearing a mask comes with downsides.
Here’s what you need to know.
the U.S. Surgeon General, Jerome M. Adams M.D., warned Americans, via Twitter: “ STOP BUYING MASKS!” He emphasized that masks don’t help prevent the spread of coronavirus in the general public.
Other experts agree. “In the research that’s been done, we don’t see any benefit at the community level for wearing the mask,” says Amanda McClelland, M.P.H., a senior vice president at Vital Strategies, a public health organization that focuses on global health threats.
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Surgical masks, for instance, have a loose fit, which means that droplets of liquid—like what a person expels when they cough, and by which coronavirus is thought to be transmitted—can leak in around the sides of the mask.
The N95 respirators are more snug, but can be hard to fit properly. In fact, healthcare workers must take an annual test to prove that they can properly fit the device and create a full seal against leaks around the sides.
Additionally, face masks can be uncomfortable, so you may find yourself frequently adjusting the mask. Or you might take it off to eat or drink and then put it back on afterward. That defeats the purpose, McClelland says. “People contaminate themselves more by touching the mask and taking it on and off their face.”
Both surgical masks and N95 respirators are only meant to be used once and then thrown away—healthcare providers use a new mask for every patient, in part because masks can be contaminated by germs during use. But consumers may be tempted to reuse them, possibly spreading the virus to other surfaces or items, says Aaron Glatt, M.D., chairman of medicine at Mount Sinai South Nassau and professor at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
To prevent that possibility, healthcare workers clean their hands every time they remove a mask, Schafner says.
As for those washable cloth masks you may see for sale, some evidence suggests that reusable masks aren’t the best option. A study in The BMJ in 2015 found that healthcare workers using cloth masks were more likely to be infected with respiratory diseases than those who used disposable surgical masks, even when workers washed them at the end of each of their shifts.
In general, says Glatt (who wasn’t involved in the BMJ study), “the potential for contamination of such cloth masks is a real concern, especially if they are not cleaned properly.”
Still, if you do opt for a reusable mask, Schaffner recommends following the manufacturer’s instruction on how to clean it.
So Who Does Need a Mask?
People with symptoms that could be COVID-19— such as fever, cough, and shortness of breath—should wear a mask when they are around others, to limit the spread of infection, the CDC says.
In addition, since the novel coronavirus is thought to spread mainly between people who have close contact— meaning within six feet—with each other, those who are caring for someone suspected of having COVID-19 should also consider wearing a mask, according to the CDC and WHO.
If you’re in one of those groups, it’s important to use masks properly. Wash your hands before putting the mask on, and then try not to touch it . If you do, wash your hands again. Discard the mask as soon as it’s damp. To remove it, handle the elastic around your ears (not the front of the mask), throw it away immediately, either in a closed plastic bag or a bin with a lid, and wash your hands again. Don’t reuse the mask.
Healthcare workers should also use masks to protect themselves—preferably a N95—when caring for people suspected of having COVID-19, according to the CDC.
The Best Steps for Prevention
While masks are only considered appropriate for a small percentage of people, everyone should take the following steps to help prevent the spread of coronavirus and other infections.
“Impeccable hand hygiene is key,” says Isaac Bogoch, M.D., an epidemiologist and associate professor of infectious disease in the department of medicine at the University of Toronto. That’s to protect you from exposure to droplets of fluid from coughs or sneezes that contain the virus.
Wash hands frequently, hands, scrubbing thoroughly for the recommended 20 seconds.
Use hand sanitizer when you can’t get to a sink—after touching a handrail or door handle, on public transit, or using a shared keyboard at the library, for example.
Abstaining from touching your face is also important, because that’s how germs get transferred from your hands to your mouth or nose, and enter your body. “It’s easy to say but hard to do,” Bogoch admits, but now is the time to make this a habit.
And of course, cover any coughs or sneezes with a tissue, and if you can’t, sneeze or cough into the crook of your elbow. “Really, the main way to protect yourself from this virus is just practicing the same type of hygienic practices that you do during flu season,” notes Amesh Adalja, M.D., an infectious disease physician and senior scholar with the Johns Hopkins University Center for Health Security.
The Right Way to Wash Your Hands
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Catherine Roberts
I've spent years tackling subjects from urban health to medical marijuana to behavioral science—both as a city reporter for my hometown public radio station in Tulsa, Okla., and as a freelance writer. Now I cover health and food at Consumer Reports. My hobbies include tinkering with computer code and watching trashy TV. Follow me on Twitter: @catharob.
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