One of the best tools health officials recommend for fighting the virus is a well-fitting mask. Since the start of the pandemic, many health experts have said any mask is better than no mask and that is still the case.With the spread of the omicron variant, one UNM Hospital doctor recommends thicker and tighter masks for more protection. Dr. Meghan Brett is an infectious disease doctor at University of New Mexico Hospital.She explained how face masks continue to help during the pandemic. “Masks can be helpful two ways. They can help you not get an infection potentially and they could also reduce the risk of transmitting infection to other people,” Brett said.As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and many schools have recommended KN95 or N95 masks, we asked Brett what is the difference? “An ‘N’ designates that they have been reviewed by OSHA here in the United States and the 95 tells you what percent of particles can be filtered,” Brett said. The “KN” designation means that it was rated by China. She says a key component to how those masks work is their tight fit. “Those can be more effective because they filter more particles and they are tighter fitting so I think they also help reduce the amount of particles that get in because they fit a bit more tightly,” Brett said.She says if people only have access to a surgical mask or cloth mask the best thing to do is. “It’s actually better to put a cloth mask over a surgical mask and how that helps it with the fit. I think double surgical mask or double procedure masking is not the best solution. I think a cloth mask that holds the procedure mask against your face is better,” Brett said. When it comes to how many times to use a mask, Brett said it’s OK to use masks over unless they get dirty, wet, soiled or if they don’t pinch as well on the nose. The U.S. is expected to give away 400 million N95 masks at community centers and pharmacies in the next upcoming weeks.Watch the video above for the full story.
One of the best tools health officials recommend for fighting the virus is a well-fitting mask.
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Since the start of the pandemic, many health experts have said any mask is better than no mask and that is still the case.
With the spread of the omicron variant, one UNM Hospital doctor recommends thicker and tighter masks for more protection.
Dr. Meghan Brett is an infectious disease doctor at University of New Mexico Hospital.
She explained how face masks continue to help during the pandemic.
“Masks can be helpful two ways. They can help you not get an infection potentially and they could also reduce the risk of transmitting infection to other people,” Brett said.
As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and many schools have recommended KN95 or N95 masks, we asked Brett what is the difference?
“An ‘N’ designates that they have been reviewed by OSHA here in the United States and the 95 tells you what percent of particles can be filtered,” Brett said.
The “KN” designation means that it was rated by China.
She says a key component to how those masks work is their tight fit.
“Those can be more effective because they filter more particles and they are tighter fitting so I think they also help reduce the amount of particles that get in because they fit a bit more tightly,” Brett said.
She says if people only have access to a surgical mask or cloth mask the best thing to do is.
“It’s actually better to put a cloth mask over a surgical mask and how that helps it with the fit. I think double surgical mask or double procedure masking is not the best solution. I think a cloth mask that holds the procedure mask against your face is better,” Brett said.
When it comes to how many times to use a mask, Brett said it’s OK to use masks over unless they get dirty, wet, soiled or if they don’t pinch as well on the nose.
The U.S. is expected to give away 400 million N95 masks at community centers and pharmacies in the next upcoming weeks.
Watch the video above for the full story.
