What to know
- Wearing a mask is an additional prevention strategy that offers you an extra layer of protection from respiratory illness.
- This action can be helpful in certain settings, like crowded spaces or when illnesses are increasing in your community, or if you or someone you spend time with is at higher risk of getting very sick.
An additional strategy to further protect yourself and others
Wearing a mask can help lower the risk of respiratory virus transmission. When worn by a person with an infection, masks reduce the spread of the virus to others. Masks can also protect wearers from breathing in infectious particles from people around them. Different masks offer different levels of protection. Wearing the most protective one you can comfortably wear for extended periods of time that fits well (completely covering the nose and mouth) is the most effective option.
How it works
Generally, masks can help act as a filter to reduce the number of germs you breathe in or out. Their effectiveness can vary against different viruses, for example, based on the size of the virus. When worn by a person who has a virus, masks can reduce the chances they spread it to others. Masks can also protect wearers from inhaling germs; this type of protection typically comes from better fitting masks (for example, N95 or KN95 respirators).
There are many different types of masks, and how well they block viruses depends on their design and how well they fit against your face. Cloth masks generally offer lower levels of protection to wearers, surgical/disposable masks usually offer more protection, international filtering facepiece respirators (like KN95 respirators) offer even more, and the most protective respirators are NIOSH Approved® filtering facepiece respirators (like N95® respirators).
Steps you can take
- When choosing to wear a mask, choose the most protective type you can.
- Determine how well it fits. Gaps can let air leak in and out. Check for gaps by cupping your hands around the outside edges of the mask. If the mask has a good fit, you will feel warm air come through the front of the mask and may be able to see the mask material move in and out with each breath.
- Learn about proper technique for wearing an N95 respirator.
Steps organizations can take
Provide free, high-quality masks to your workforce or visitors in times of higher respiratory viral spread.
Key times for prevention
All of the prevention strategies can be helpful to reduce risk. Additional measures, like wearing a mask, are especially helpful when:
- Respiratory viruses are causing a lot of illness in your community.
- You or the people around you were recently exposed to a respiratory virus, are sick, or are recovering.
- You or the people around you have risk factors for severe illness.
Notice
CDC offers separate, specific guidance for healthcare settings (COVID-19, flu, and general infection prevention and control). Federal civil rights laws may require reasonable modifications or reasonable accommodations in various circumstances. Nothing in this guidance is intended to detract from or supersede those laws.