Is Wearing a Medical-Grade Mask a Must?

• Position: CORONAVIRUS

With the spread of COVID-19's Omicron variant, people's attention has returned to which face mask may provide the most protection against the virus. Is a surgical or N95 mask better than a cloth mask? Should we all be considering an N95 mask?

"Compared to a surgical mask or even the common cloth masks that many people have been wearing during the pandemic, an N95 mask is designed to be much more effective in providing protection from the coronavirus," says Richard Carpiano, professor in the School of Public Policy at the University of California, Riverside.

"It provides a closer fit to one's face via a tighter seal around one's nose and mouth. That seal, in combination with the material it is composed of, offers a much higher level of protection from airborne particles. In fact, when used properly, an N95 can filter out at least 95% of airborne particles of a particular size that includes the coronavirus.

"Commonly available KN95 masks have many similarities to N95 masks. Though KN95s are not held to the same Federal manufacturing standards as N95s, they are still a very useful alternative.

"For an N95, or even the KN95, to be effective, it is important that wearers make sure that the seal around the face and mouth is adequately snug and that there are no gaps--especially around the bridge of the nose. It should fit comfortably but sufficiently secure either behind the head (an N95 will only have head...