Your Guide to Masks | CDC

Cloth masks and surgical masks do not provide an airtight fit across the face. The CO2 escapes into the air through the mask when you breathe out or talk. CO2 ... Skipdirectlytositecontent Skipdirectlytopageoptions SkipdirectlytoA-Zlink Self-Checker CoronavirusSelf-Checker Restart × HOME COVID-19 COVID-19 CoronavirusHome Home YourHealth Vaccines Cases&Data Work&School HealthcareWorkers HealthDepts Science More SectionNavigation CDCHome Importantupdate:Healthcarefacilities CDChasupdatedselectwaystooperatehealthcaresystemseffectivelyinresponsetoCOVID-19vaccination. Learnmore Findthelatestinformation: AquaticsFAQs RecommendationsforFullyVaccinatedPeople COVID-19Homepage UPDATE GivennewevidenceontheB.1.617.2(Delta)variant,CDChasupdatedtheguidanceforfullyvaccinatedpeople.CDCrecommendsuniversalindoormaskingforallteachers,staff,students,andvisitorstoK-12schools,regardlessofvaccinationstatus.Childrenshouldreturntofull-timein-personlearninginthefallwithlayeredpreventionstrategiesinplace. UPDATE TheWhiteHouseannouncedthatvaccineswillberequiredforinternationaltravelerscomingintotheUnitedStates,withaneffectivedateofNovember8,2021.ForpurposesofentryintotheUnitedStates,vaccinesacceptedwillincludeFDAapprovedorauthorizedandWHOEmergencyUseListingvaccines.Moreinformationisavailablehere. UPDATE TravelrequirementstoentertheUnitedStatesarechanging,startingNovember8,2021.Moreinformationisavailablehere. YourGuidetoMasksYourGuidetoMasksHowtoselect,properlywear,clean,andstoremasks UpdatedOct.25,2021 LanguagesEspañol简体中文TiếngViệt한국어OtherLanguages Print Minus RelatedPages Everyone2yearsorolderwhoisnotfullyvaccinatedshouldwearamask inindoorpublicplaces. Ingeneral,youdonotneedtowearamaskinoutdoorsettings. InareaswithhighnumbersofCOVID-19cases,considerwearingamaskincrowdedoutdoorsettingsandforactivitieswithclosecontact withotherswhoarenotfullyvaccinated. Peoplewhohaveaconditionoraretakingmedicationsthatweakentheirimmunesystemmaynotbefullyprotectedeveniftheyarefullyvaccinated.Theyshouldcontinuetotakeallprecautionsrecommendedforunvaccinatedpeople,includingwearingawell-fittedmask,untiladvisedotherwisebytheirhealthcareprovider. Ifyouarefullyvaccinated,tomaximizeprotectionandpreventpossiblyspreadingCOVID-19toothers,wearamaskindoorsinpublicifyouareinanareaofsubstantialorhightransmission. Wearingamaskoveryournoseandmouthisrequiredonplanes,buses,trains,andotherformsofpublictransportationtravelinginto,within,oroutoftheUnitedStatesandwhileindoorsatU.S.transportationhubssuchasairportsandtrainstations.Travelersarenotrequiredtowearamaskinoutdoorareasofaconveyance(likeonopendeckareasofaferryortheuncoveredtopdeckofabus). HowtoSelect Whenselectingamask,therearemanychoices.Herearesomedo’sanddon’ts. DOchoosemasksthat Havetwoormorelayersofwashable,breathablefabric Completelycoveryournoseandmouth Fitsnuglyagainstthesidesofyourfaceanddon’thavegaps Haveanosewireto preventairfromleakingoutofthetopofthemask DONOTchoosemasksthat Aremadeoffabricthatmakesithardtobreathe,forexample,vinyl Haveexhalationvalvesorventswhichallowvirusparticlestoescape Arespeciallylabeled“surgical”N95respirators,asthoseshouldbeprioritizedforhealthcarepersonnel SpecialConsiderations Gaiters&faceshieldsWearagaiterwithtwolayers,orfoldittomaketwolayers Notrecommended:Evaluationoffaceshieldsisongoing,buteffectivenessisunknownatthistime. Children Findamaskthatismadeforchildrentohelpensureproperfit Checktobesurethemaskfitssnuglyoverthenoseandmouthandunderthechinandthattherearenogapsaroundthesides DoNOTputamaskonchildrenyoungerthan2yearsold ColdweathergearWearyourscarf,skimaskorbalaclavaoveryourmask Scarves,skimasksandbalaclavasarenotsubstitutesformasks PeoplewithbeardsCertaintypesoffacialhair,likebeards,canmakemaskfittingdifficult.Masksthatfitwellprotectyoubetter.Tohaveabetterfit,peoplewithbeardscanshavetheirbeardsortrimtheirbeardsclosetotheface. Otherwaystoimprovefit Useamaskfitterorbrace. Wearonedisposablemaskunderneathaclothmaskthathasmultiplelayersoffabric.Thesecondmaskshouldpushtheedgesoftheinnermaskagainstthefaceandbeard. Forpeoplewithbeardsthatarenottrimmedclosetotheface,masksmayfitlooselyaroundthebeard.However,peoplewithbeardsshouldstillwearamask.Masksdesignedforpeoplewithbeardsarebeingevaluated,andinformationwillbeprovidedwhenitbecomesavailable. PeoplewithdisabilitiesCertaingroupsofpeoplemayfinditdifficulttowearamask,includingsomechildren2yearsandolderandpeopleofanyagewithcertaindisabilities. Appropriateandconsistentuseofmasksmaybechallengingforsome,includingpeoplewithcertaindisabilities.Challengesmaybecausedbybeingsensitivetohavingmaterialontheface,difficultyunderstandingwhywearingamaskisprotective(suchasthosewithanintellectualdisability),orhavingdifficultycontrollingbehavior. Whendeterminingifchildrenandpeoplewithcertaindisabilitiesshouldwearamask,assesstheirabilityto Wearamaskcorrectly Avoidfrequenttouchingofthemaskandtheirface Limitsucking,drooling,orhavingexcesssalivaonthemask Removethemaskwithoutassistance ForpeoplewhocannotwearorsafelywearamaskbecauseofadisabilityasdefinedbytheAmericanswithDisabilitiesAct(ADA)(42U.S.C.12101etseq.),considerreasonableaccommodationforworkerswhoarenotfullyvaccinated,whoareunabletowearamask,orwhohavedifficultywearingcertaintypesofmasksbecauseofadisability. Ifyouarecaringforchildrenandpeoplewithcertaindisabilitieswhomayneedassistancewithwearingmasks,youshould Askyourhealthcareproviderforadvicetohelpthepersonyouarecaringfortowearamaskandaskforalternativewaysofreducingtransmissionrisk. Ensurepropermasksizeand fit. Removetheirmaskbeforesleeping,napping,whentheymayfallasleep(suchasinacarseatorstroller),andinsituationswhencontinualsupervisionisnotpossible. Considerprioritizingwearingamaskinpublicsettingsandwhenaroundpeoplewhodon’tliveinyourhousehold,particularlywhenindoors.Masksmaynotbenecessarywhenyouandthepersonyouarecaringforareoutsideandawayfromothers,orwithotherpeoplewholiveinthesamehousehold.However,somelocalitiesmayhavemaskmandateswhileoutinpublicandthesemandatesshouldalwaysbefollowed. Masksshould not bewornby: Childrenunder2years Apersonwithadisabilitywhocannotwearamask,orcannotsafelywearamask,forreasonsrelatedtothedisability Apersonforwhomwearingamaskwouldcreatearisktoworkplacehealth,safety,orjobdutyasdeterminedbythe workplaceriskassessmentexternalicon Peoplewhoaredeaforhardofhearingandthosewhowillinteractwithpeoplewhoarehearingimpaired Ifyouinteractwithpeoplewhorelyonreadinglips,youmayhavedifficultycommunicatingwhilewearingamask. Considerwearingaclearmaskoraclothmaskwithaclearpanel. Generally,vinylandnon-breathablematerialsarenotrecommendedformasks.However,foreaseoflip-reading,thisisanexceptiontothatgeneralguidance. Ifyouarenotabletogetaclearmask,considerusingwrittencommunication,closedcaptioning,ordecreasingbackgroundnoisetomakecommunicationpossiblewhilewearingamaskthatblockslips. Peoplewithcertainunderlyingmedicalconditions Mostpeoplewith underlyingmedicalconditions canandshouldwearmasks. Ifyouhaverespiratoryconditionsandareconcernedaboutwearingamasksafely,discusswithyourhealthcareproviderthebenefitsandpotentialrisksofwearingamask. Ifyouhave asthma,youcanwearamask.Discusswithyourhealthcareproviderifyouhaveanyconcernsaboutwearingamask. Maskuseandcarbondioxide Wearingamaskdoesnotraisethecarbondioxide(CO2)levelintheairyoubreathe. Clothmasksandsurgicalmasksdonotprovideanairtightfitacrosstheface.TheCO2escapesintotheairthroughthemaskwhenyoubreatheoutortalk.CO2moleculesaresmallenoughtoeasilypassthroughmaskmaterial.Incontrast,therespiratorydropletsthatcarrythevirusthatcausesCOVID-19aremuchlargerthanCO2,sotheycannotpassaseasilythroughaproperlydesignedandproperlywornmask. HowtoWear Wearamask correctly and consistently forthebestprotection. Besuretowashyourhandsorusehandsanitizer beforeputtingonamask. Do NOT touchthemaskwhenwearingit.Ifyouhavetotouch/adjustyourmaskoften,itdoesn’tfityouproperly,andyoumayneedtofindadifferentmaskormakeadjustments. Dowearamaskthat Coversyournoseandmouthandcanbesecuredunderyourchin. Fitssnuglyagainstthesidesofyourface. HowNOTtoWearaMask Howtotakeoffamask liteiconCarefully,untiethestringsbehindyourheadorstretchtheearloops liteiconHandleonlybytheearloopsorties liteiconFoldtheoutsidecornerstogether liteiconBecarefulnottotouchyoureyes,nose,andmouthwhenremovingandwashhandsimmediatelyafterremoving HowtoClean Reusablemasksshouldbewashedassoonastheybecomedirty,oratleastonceaday.Ifyouhaveadisposablefacemask,throwitawayafterwearingitonce.Alwaysandwashyourhands afterhandlingortouchingausedmask. Usingawashingmachine Includeyourmaskwithyourregularlaundry. Useregularlaundrydetergentandtheappropriatesettingsaccordingtothefabriclabel. Byhand Washyourmaskwithtapwaterandlaundrydetergentorsoap. Rinsethoroughlywithcleanwatertoremovedetergentorsoap. DryYourMask Dryer Dryyourmaskcompletelyinawarmorhotdryer Byhand Hangyourmaskindirectsunlighttodrycompletely.Ifyoucannothangitindirectsunlight,hangorlayitflatandletitdrycompletely. HowtoStore StorewetordirtymasksinaplasticbagIfyourmaskiswetordirtyfromsweat,saliva,make-up,orotherliquidsorsubstances,keepitinasealedplasticbaguntilyoucanwashit.Washwetordirtymasksassoonaspossibletopreventthemfrombecomingmoldy.Wetmaskscanbehardtobreathethroughandarelesseffectivethandrymasks. StoremasksthatarenotwetordirtyinapaperbagYoucanstoreyourmasktemporarilytoreuselater.Removeyourmaskcorrectlyand washyourhands aftertouchingausedmask.Keepitinadry,breathablebag(likeapaperormeshfabricbag)tokeepitcleanbetweenuses.Whenreusingyourmask,keepthesamesidefacingout. Ifyouaretakingoffyourmasktoeatordrinkoutsideofyourhome,youcanplaceitsomewheresafetokeepitclean,suchasyourpocket,purse,orpaperbag.Makesuretowashorsanitizeyourhandsafterremovingyourmask.Aftereating,putthemaskbackonwiththesamesidefacingout.Besuretowashorsanitizeyourhandsagainafterputtingyourmaskbackon. AdditionalResources     ChoosingaMask:DosandDonts     HowtoTakeOffaMask     PleaseWearaMask     Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Syndicate LastUpdatedOct.25,2021 Contentsource: NationalCenterforImmunizationandRespiratoryDiseases(NCIRD),DivisionofViralDiseases homeYourHealthAboutCOVID-19plusiconTransmissionplusiconHowCOVID-19SpreadsReinfectionFrequentlyAskedQuestionsAnimals&COVID-19BasicsofCOVID-19AntibodiesandCOVID-19VariantsoftheVirusplusiconAboutVariantsOmicronVariantDeltaVariantUnderstandingVariantsSymptomsplusiconCoronavirusSelf-CheckerTestingplusiconTestingOverviewTestforCurrentInfectionplusiconViralTestingToolTestforPastInfectionSelf-TestingContactTracingplusiconHowToTalkToYourCloseContactsContactTracingStepsPreventGettingSickplusiconProtectYourselfGetaVaccineMasksplusiconYourGuidetoMasksImproveHowYourMaskProtectsYouTypesofMasksandRespiratorsCleaningYourHomeImprovingVentilationinYourHomeIfYouAreSickplusiconWhattoDoIfYouAreSickQuarantine&IsolationCaringforSomeoneBreastfeeding&CaringforNewbornsPotentialTreatmentsLong-TermEffectsplusiconCaringforPeoplewithPost-COVIDConditionsPatientAppointmentTipsSpecificGroupsofPeopleplusiconFamilies&ChildrenplusiconUnvaccinatedFamilyMembersFamilies&COVID-19AtSchoolorEarlyCareandEducationProgramsMedicalConditionsplusiconPeoplewithModeratetoSevereAsthmaPregnantPeoplePeopleLivinginPrisons&JailsActivities,Gatherings&HolidaysplusiconDailyActivitiesOutdoorandIndoorActivitiesSmallandLargeGatheringsHolidayCelebrationsEventPlanningFAQsTravelplusiconDomesticTravelDuringCOVID-19InternationalTravelplusiconInternationalTravelForU.S.Citizens,U.S.Nationals,LawfulPermanentResidents,andImmigrantsNon-U.S.citizen,Non-U.S.immigrants:TraveltotheUnitedStatesRequirementforProofofCOVID-19VaccinationforAirPassengersRequiredTestingbeforeAirTraveltotheUSTravelAssessmentTravelRecommendationsbyDestinationHowCOVID-19TravelHealthNoticeLevelsAreDeterminedMaskRequirementCruiseShipTravelTravelFAQsCommunicationResourcesforTravelersplusiconAirTravelToolkitforAirlinePartnersSouthernBorderToolkitforPartnersTravelandVaccinationSocialMediaToolkitforPartnersArchive email_03GetEmailUpdates ToreceiveemailupdatesaboutCOVID-19,enteryouremailaddress: EmailAddress What'sthis? 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