Yes, it’s been confusing, frustrating, and downright difficult to determine what you’re supposed to do these days. Should I get a booster and am I eligible? (It depends who you are) Should I continue to wear a mask if I’m fully vaccinated? (Yes, in certain cases)  If so, where and when? Does it matter what type of mask I wear at this point? (Yes, new research seems to indicate it does) And why does the CDC keep changing its recommendations? (because our knowledge of the science keeps evolving). For some clarity, let’s take a look at the current state of affairs concerning masks.

Given that the Delta variant rages on and certain segments of our population remain unvaccinated (either because of their health conditions, their young age or their purposeful decision not to be vaccinated), COVID-19 continues to be ever-present in many if not most communities around the US and globally. That means, beyond vaccination, whatever measures we can take to lessen the likelihood of exposure are critical. We’ve previously posted on how to assess and limit your risk in this current state, and there is a continued consensus in the scientific community (along with new research data) to support mask-wearing as a way to protect yourself and your loved ones. We know that vaccines are not perfect- even those vaccinated can still become infected and spread the virus- and we now know pretty definitively that mask-wearing can significantly reduce the amount of viral infection spread, in both children and adults, and especially among older adults.

A recent randomized, controlled study out of Bangladesh, involving thousands of people who were not mandated to wear masks but given the information about their value, in addition to being given free masks at their homes and in their communities, demonstrated definitively that masks do save lives. There is a long history dating back to the plague in 1910 of people using masks as a way to protect themselves from disease. So there’s nothing particularly new or controversial in the idea of masking as a way to protect yourself from infection. And we already know that during COVID, countries with a cultural acceptance of mask-wearing have had far fewer mortalities during COVID outbreaks than countries without mask-wearing norms. Now we also have a well-done, scientifically valid study that demonstrates that even without mandates, strategies to get more people wearing masks can save lives, and the type of mask you wear can be meaningful for this fight.

Specifically what the researchers found was that surgical masks, rather than cloth masks, seem to be more effective in reducing COVID-19 infections, especially among older adults who are vulnerable to more severe illness if they become infected with COVID. While wearing any mask is better than no mask, surgical masks, especially with several layers, seem to be more effective than cloth masks. In fact, some airlines have now taken the step of banning cloth masks because they are simply less effective at limiting infection in the confined spaces of an aircraft. Of course, there are higher filtration masks (such as N95 masks) that provide even further protection if you can access them. The bottom line? To protect yourself and your loved ones, when in indoor settings beyond your immediate household, especially if there are crowds of people and uncertain ventilation conditions, you should continue to wear a mask, and if possible, utilize a multi-layered surgical mask rather than a cloth one. For some suggestions of available and accessible masks to purchase, cover your mouth and click here.

Finally, speaking of masks, a new study out of the University of Washington suggests you take the mask-wearing one step further. This study found a direct connection between exposure to air pollution and a higher incidence of dementia. Even a small exposure seemed to put people living in the geographic area at higher risk. One way to protect yourself from that increased risk of dementia due to air pollution? Wear a mask. To find out more, read here.