Healthy Vision Month promotion: Get 25% off the Smart Driver online course. You could even save on auto insurance!
by Rachel Nania, AARP, January 24, 2022
Angus Mordant/Bloomberg via Getty Images
The arrival of the highly contagious omicron variant has spurred a shift in face mask advice. Many experts are telling Americans that instead of wearing just any mask, they should be upgrading to the best one they can get their hands on. That, as it turns out, is a respirator mask, also known as an N95.
On Jan. 14, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its guidance to acknowledge that these masks provide the highest level of protection against the virus that causes COVID-19, and that certain people, including older adults and individuals with underlying health conditions, may want to consider wearing one now that they are no longer being reserved for health care workers. (The CDC stops short of officially recommending the high-efficiency masks over others, instead maintaining that any mask is better than no mask.)
There are a few things to know about N95s before switching to one, including how many times you can reuse the mask. Here’s what the experts have to say.
Just as the name suggests, N95 masks that have been approved by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) — here’s how to tell if yours is NIOSH-approved — are at least 95 percent effective at filtering out virus-sized particles, including the virus that causes COVID-19, when worn correctly. This means the mask should fit snugly over your nose and mouth, forming a tight seal, without any gaps along the edges or around the nose.
Join today and save 43% off the standard annual rate. Get instant access to discounts, programs, services, and the information you need to benefit every area of your life.
“If you're in a crowded place where there are people who maybe have COVID, wearing an N95 mask means you're cleaning the air much better right before you breathe it in,” says M. Patricia Fabian, an associate professor in the Department of Environmental Health at the Boston University School of Public Health. What’s more, N95s help to block droplets and particles that you breathe out (or cough or sneeze out) from reaching others.
KF94 and KN95 masks also fall into the category of respirators. The difference is they are designed and tested to meet international standards. The CDC says KN95s offer slightly less protection than NIOSH-approved N95s but are still more protective than cloth masks.
In addition to older adults and people at higher risk for complications from a coronavirus infection, the CDC says people who are caring for someone who is sick with COVID-19 should consider wearing a respirator mask. So should individuals who interact with the public daily, like grocery store workers and bus drivers. Taking public transportation or hopping on a cross-country flight? That’s also a good time to wear an N95 or something similar.
Unlike cloth masks that can be washed and reused, N95s do not have as long of a lifecycle. For starters, they are not washable. One of the layers in the mask is electrostatic; it’s meant to attract and trap particles in the air that's breathed in, Fabian explains. Wash it with soap and water and “you’d ruin at least one of the layers, if not more,” she says.
In fact, the CDC says respirator masks should be tossed in the trash if they get wet or dirty. If your mask stays clean, consider it good for about a week, says Aubree Gordon, associate professor of epidemiology at the University of Michigan School of Public Health. (This advice is for the general public only; health care workers abide by different rules.) However, if you’re only wearing your N95 for short bursts — say, to the grocery store or to run a few errands — you can likely reuse it for longer, Fabian points out.
The key is to pay attention to the “structural integrity” of the mask, says Megan Conroy, M.D., a pulmonologist at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. For example, if the straps get too stretched or the seal around your face is no longer snug, it’s time for a new one.
Also, if you notice that it becomes more difficult to breathe in the mask, it’s time to retire it. “It's a filter, so if that filter starts to get clogged up, it's going to get harder to breathe in,” Gordon says. “If it's not feeling as comfortable anymore, or if it's looking bad or not fitting well, that would be the time” to stop wearing it.
Definitely. Tossing a respirator mask in a purse or backpack with your phone, keys, wallet and other on-the-go essentials isn’t a good idea. Storing it in a paper bag between each use, however, is.
This will “help keep it clean and protected” in a breathable environment, Gordon says. The CDC also recommends storing masks that are not wet or dirty in paper bags between each use. Avoid storing your mask in an airtight container, Gordon adds.
If you have access to more than one N95, rotate between each. When you’re done with one, take it off and put it in a paper bag marked with the day of the week or whatever organizational system you prefer, Gordon says, and wear another N95 in the meantime. “Wait until you are past the mask’s quarantine period or disinfecting period” before wearing it again, she says. In experimental studies, which may differ from real-world conditions, the coronavirus can stay alive on surfaces for up to 72 hours, according to the CDC.
When you’re taking the mask off, make sure you do so by the elastic ear straps. “You shouldn’t touch the actual mask,” Fabian says. The reason? “The mask is filtering COVID particles. So imagine that the COVID particles are stuck to the outside of the mask. When you take your hand and you grab the mask, now your hand is contaminated with any COVID particles that could have been trapped on the mask,” Fabian explains.
One myth that Fabian wants to dispel is that respirator masks are uncomfortable to wear. If you’ve found one annoying in the past, try a different style — “there are so many types out there,” Fabian says. Some are shaped like a duckbill; others are flat-folded. The cup-shaped mask is also popular, so experiment, if you can, to see what works best for your face and your needs.
An added bonus: A well-fitted N95 should prevent your glasses from fogging up, since the masks are meant to create a seal around your face, thereby blocking any warm air from sneaking under your lenses, Fabian says. If you’re still getting fog, adjust the nose bridge for a tighter fit.
While scarce in the early days of the pandemic, respirator masks have become easier to find in stores and online; just make sure your mask meets the standards advertised. (The CDC has a list of NIOSH-approved N95 masks, as well as examples of counterfeits, which are plentiful.)
Your local hardware store may stock them (avoid any with an exhalation valve or vent). Experts also recommend checking out ProjectN95, a nonprofit clearinghouse that vets and sells respirator masks. One tip: If you’re buying a respirator for the first time, try not to buy in bulk, just in case the style you select doesn’t fit you well.
President Joe Biden has announced plans to distribute 400 million nonsurgical N95 masks to the American public for free. Administration officials say the masks, which come from the Strategic National Stockpile, will be available for pickup at tens of thousands of pharmacies and community health centers nationwide starting by the end of January.
And while there might be a run on respirator masks in your local area now, Fabian expects that — just like with cloth and surgical masks — N95s and other in-demand respirators will become more readily available.
Not necessarily. The CDC says that “any mask is better than no mask,” given the current state of the pandemic, and so finding something that fits well and that you’ll consistently wear in public is key.
Just know, though, that loosely woven cloth products provide the least protection from the coronavirus; layered finely woven products are a little better. Even surgical masks, which the CDC says are more protective than cloth masks, are less efficient at filtering out virus particles than a respirator mask.
“I do think that for people who are interested in continuing to protect themselves and others from COVID with our current omicron variant [and others that could pop up in the future], finding a high-efficiency filtration mask that fits well and that you can continue to access” is something to start working on, Conroy says.
Rachel Nania writes about health care and health policy for AARP. Previously she was a reporter and editor for WTOP Radio in Washington, D.C. A recipient of a Gracie Award and a regional Edward R. Murrow Award, she also participated in a dementia fellowship with the National Press Foundation.
Some masks are better than others when it comes to the percentage of coronavirus-sized airborne particles they’re able to filter out, research published in 2021 by the Environmental Protection Agency and others show. Here’s what their studies have found.
Woven nylon mask with aluminum nose bridge and filter
Medical procedure mask, loops twisted around ears, corners tucked
Woven nylon mask with aluminum nose bridge, no filter
Woven nylon mask, no bridge
Medical procedure mask with ear loops
This information was published in the January/February 2022 edition of the AARP Bulletin.
Learn, earn and unlock exclusive members-only offers with AARP Rewards
Activities, healthy recipes, games and more through AARP Staying Sharp®
Members can save 50% on prescription lenses
AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that empowers people to choose how they live as they age.
You are leaving AARP.org and going to the website of our trusted provider. The provider’s terms, conditions and policies apply. Please return to AARP.org to learn more about other benefits.
You are leaving AARP.org and going to the website of our trusted provider. The provider’s terms, conditions and policies apply. Please return to AARP.org to learn more about other benefits.
You are leaving AARP.org and going to the website of our trusted provider. The provider’s terms, conditions and policies apply. Please return to AARP.org to learn more about other benefits.
You are leaving AARP.org and going to the website of our trusted provider. The provider’s terms, conditions and policies apply. Please return to AARP.org to learn more about other benefits.
You are leaving AARP.org and going to the website of our trusted provider. The provider’s terms, conditions and policies apply. Please return to AARP.org to learn more about other benefits.
Your email address is now confirmed.
You'll start receiving the latest news, benefits, events, and programs related to AARP's mission to empower people to choose how they live as they age.
You can also manage your communication preferences by updating your account at anytime. You will be asked to register or log in.
In the next 24 hours, you will receive an email to confirm your subscription to receive emails related to AARP volunteering. Once you confirm that subscription, you will regularly receive communications related to AARP volunteering. In the meantime, please feel free to search for ways to make a difference in your community at www.aarp.org/volunteer
Javascript must be enabled to use this site. Please enable Javascript in your browser and try again.