The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently updated its guidance for wearing masks as a mitigation effort against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Greene County Public Health Director Becky Wolf says the CDC is recommending everyone wear an N95 mask as opposed to a cloth mask. She explains that with the more prevalent Omicron variant, cloth masks do not provide the best protection against the virus. She talks about some of the precautions with using the N95 masks.

“The N95 mask has to form a snug feel to your face to work properly and that’s especially important for people that are at an increased risk for severe disease or have immuno-compromised issues. When you’re wearing the N95, it can make it harder to breathe, so if you have heart or lung problems, you probably want to talk to you primary care provider before you use one.” 

Wolf points out the federal government is offering free N95 masks that are available at Jefferson Hy-Vee, community health centers, and other stores like Walgreens and CVS. An individual can pick up as many as three masks each visit. She describes when it’s appropriate to dispose of an N95 mask.

“You want to replace the N95 when your straps are becoming stretched out and you no longer have a good, nice fit snugly against your face, or if the mask becomes wet, or dirty, or damaged, you want to just go ahead and throw it in the trash.”    

Wolf adds to never wash those masks, but to just dispose of them.