According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the CDC recommends that people wear masks in public settings, like on public and mass transportation, at events and gatherings, and anywhere they will be around other people. Cloth masks do not have the capability to filter tiny particles like an N95 mask, however it can still help prevent the spread of the disease by blocking respiratory droplets that leave a person’s mouth while coughing, sneezing or talking. The N95 respirator offers the most protection against viral particles for the wearer because it can filter very small aerosol particles. Fabric masks, are effective in reducing the spread of the disease because they help stop asymptomatic individuals from unknowingly spreading the disease
Resources:
- CDC: I wear a mask because video
- Scientific Brief: Community Use of Cloth Masks to Control the Spread of SARS-CoV-2
