Masked walkers stroll around Lake Merritt in Oakland, California on Sunday, November 28, 2021. The discovery of the omicron variant coincides with the delicate moment when Bay Area residents and community leaders continue to cope with the COVID-19 infection.
Although the Bay Area counties have not indicated any changes to their mask policies so far, the arrival of the omicron variant has made many people wonder if it is time to double their mask habits-and upgrade their masks.
Local experts said that no matter what omicron is, the next few weeks are a good time to buy better masks and implement the same public health procedures as last year’s holiday surge. Although there is currently no data on whether the latest variant is more contagious than delta, experts say that upgrading your mask strategy is a way to reduce the risk of infection with any version of the virus.
“Forget omicron for now,” said Dr. John Swartzberg, an infectious disease expert at the University of California, Berkeley. “We have been looking forward to it for a while, and we will now see a steady increase in cases.”
So is it time to buy the supply of N95 masks? Can double shielding prevent omicron variants? Here is what Bay Area experts say you should know.
Experts say that the expected surge in COVID during the holidays means it is time to strengthen your protection, not just your preferred cloth mask.
So far, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continues to recommend multi-layer cloth masks to prevent coronavirus, saying they can effectively help prevent exhalation and contact with small infectious respiratory droplets. Even during the delta boom, experts like Swartzberg pointed out that “wearing a mask is better than nothing.”
However, fabric masks are not as good as some other types of masks in filtering tiny SARS-CoV-2 particles. Many fabrics are not only too loose to resist viruses under the microscope, but they may not fit the nose, cheeks, or chin well.
Swartzberg said on Sunday: “If you feel you need to wear a mask, cloth masks can provide some protection, but much less than other strategies.”
Disposable surgical masks can provide adequate protection as long as they fit your face well. If there are gaps around your cheeks, you may need to wear earrings. If the mask is too big, buy a smaller mask to make sure it fits your jaw line better.
N95 is a close-fitting respirator mask. You should check to make sure your respirator is on the FDA’s list of NIOSH approved respirators.
KN95 masks are imported from China and meet the standards of that country, but they do not meet the standards of the United States. Experts recommend buying them from reputable retailers to help ensure that they are not counterfeit.
Earlier this year, the CDC recommended layering the mask to prevent respiratory droplets from passing through your mask.
Double-layer masks—usually a surgical mask under a cloth mask—can improve the fit. The extra material can better fit the facial features that may have gaps in surgical masks, such as around the cheeks or nose.
“The science in this area is quite imperfect,” said Dr. Jorge Salinas, an epidemiologist at Stanford Healthcare Hospital. But in general, although a double mask is not as effective as wearing a multi-layer mask with better filtering and fit, it is more protective than a single cloth mask, and all these options are better than no mask.
If you are in a crowded outdoor place (such as a concert or shopping mall), please bring a mask with you. Experts say that when there are fewer people around you, you may be able to remove the mask because there is more air movement between the body.
It is safer to be outdoors than indoors, especially when the indoor air filtration is poor.
Salinas said: “For people, avoiding access to crowded, poorly ventilated spaces is more important than choosing a good mask.” “The quality of PPE is your last resort.”
Swartzberg said, comparing child protection measures to a piece of Swiss cheese. The hole in the “cheese” is how the virus particles reach the child’s respiratory system. Although the holes may not be perfectly aligned, the particles will eventually figure out how to pass through the tunnel and infect someone.
In this analogy, the vaccine provides a layer of defense. Swartzberg said that children 5 years of age and older are eligible to receive two doses of Pfizer vaccines. These vaccines make up the “biggest piece of cheese” in which the holes do not penetrate the other side. A well-fitting mask (no gaps, multiple layers of materials) can filter out most of the remaining mask.
For children who may not be able to get a better-fitting mask (many N95s are made for adult faces), dual masks can provide vital protection in school or public. Anhui Center has obtained the EU white list export qualification, and the factory has the first-line production level, which ensures the quality and reasonable price, freely ask price to email :info@medical-best.com
Post time: Dec-16-2021