Is it time to upgrade your mask to protect yourself from the delta variant? - OregonLive

As we head into indoor season and the delta variant of the coronavirus continues to spread, you might be wondering if it’s time to up your mask game.

But, according to experts, the kind of mask you are wearing is less important than the act of just wearing one.

“Cloth face coverings are effective for most nonmedical uses, and they’re reusable and washable,” said Tim Heider, spokesperson for the Oregon Health Authority.

And OHA continues to recommend masks over face shields, Heider said, “except in limited situations when a face shield by itself is appropriate, like talking to someone who is deaf or hard of hearing and needs to read lips to communicate.”

Dr. Dawn Nolt, a professor of pediatrics in the division of infectious diseases at Oregon Health and Science University, said the most effective kind of cloth mask should have at least two layers of fabric, fit without gaps over your nose and mouth, and have a nose wire.

“Although the circulating delta variant is more contagious and thus less forgiving of breaks in prevention measures when compared to previous COVID-19 variants,” Nolt said, “it is important to use all available prevention measures, and not worry or debate the quality of the ‘best’ mask.”

Nolt added that masking is just part of a prevention strategy that includes vaccines, physical distancing and hand washing.

“When I’m at work as a healthcare professional, I use a surgical mask, as that is my workplace standard,” she said. “When I’m in the community, I wear a cloth mask with the attributes above, keep away from people I don’t share a household with, and use a lot of hand sanitizer and soap when available.”

But, if you still want to wear something with a little more protective power, especially if no one else around you is wearing a mask, New York Times health columnist Tara Parker-Pope recently wrote, “The laboratory studies showed that a high-quality medical mask, like an N95, KN95 or KF94, works best.”

So pick the best mask for you, but whatever mask you choose, remember, the most important thing is that you’re wearing one.

-- Lizzy Acker

503-221-8052, lacker@oregonian.com, @lizzzyacker

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