Masks and Respiratory Viruses Prevention | Respiratory Illnesses

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00:00:00"> March 1, 2024 </time> <div data-alt-langs class="cdc-page-title-bar__item cdc-page-title-bar__item--languages"> <a class="cdc-page-title-bar__item" href="https://espanol.cdc.gov/enes/respiratory-viruses/prevention/masks.html">Español</a> </div> </section> <div class="cdc-page-title cdc-page-offset syndicate"> <h1>Masks and Respiratory Viruses Prevention</h1> </div> <div id="content" class="cdc-page-content cdc-page-offset syndicate container"> <div class="cdc-dfe-body "> <div class="cdc-dfe-body__top "> <div class="dfe-section dfe-section--page-summary summary-list" data-section="cdc_prevention_page_summary"> <div class="dfe-section__header"> <h2>What to know</h2> </div> <div class="dfe-section__content"> <ul class="nested-list"> <li class="level-1">Wearing a mask is an additional prevention strategy that you can choose to further protect yourself and others.<ul> </ul> </li> </ul> </div> <div id="nav-buttons"> </div> </div> </div> <div class="cdc-dfe-body__center "> <div class="dfe-section" data-section="cdc_prevention_overview"> <a class="onThisPageAnchor" id="cdc_prevention_overview-an-additional-strategy-to-further-protect-yourself-and-others" name="An%20additional%20strategy%20to%20further%20protect%20yourself%20and%20others" title="An additional strategy to further protect yourself and others"></a><h2>An additional strategy to further protect yourself and others</h2> <figure class="dfe-image dfe-image__large"><div class="image-container calculated-ratio-16-9 aspect-ratio-16-9"><img src="/respiratory-viruses/media/images/8.png" alt="Older male wearing a face mask."></div> <div class="dfe-image-caption-container"><figcaption class="dfe-image-caption" id="caption-3921-669804ca81d87">When choosing to wear a mask, choose the most protective type you can. Facial hair that lies along the sealing area of a respirator, such as beards, will interfere with respirators that rely on a tight facepiece seal to achieve maximum protection.</figcaption></div></figure> <div class="dfe-block dfe-block--cdcmodule dfe-block--width-standard"><div class="dfe-block__inner"><div class="cdc-textblock"><div class="dfe-block dfe-callout-custom-blue">Wearing a <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/publicppe/community-ppe.html">mask</a> can help lower the risk of respiratory virus transmission. When worn by a person with an infection, masks reduce the spread of the virus to others. Masks can also protect wearers from breathing in infectious particles from people around them. Different masks offer different levels of protection. Wearing the most protective one you can comfortably wear for extended periods of time that fits well (completely covering the nose and mouth) is the most effective option.</div> </div> </div></div> </div> <div class="dfe-section" data-section="cdc_prevention_pre"> <a class="onThisPageAnchor" id="cdc_prevention_pre-how-it-works" name="How%20it%20works" title="How it works"></a><h2>How it works</h2> <p>Generally, masks can help act as a filter to reduce the number of germs you breathe in or out. Their effectiveness can vary against different viruses, for example, based on the size of the virus. When worn by a person who has a virus, masks can reduce the chances they spread it to others. Masks can also protect wearers from inhaling germs; this type of protection typically comes from better fitting masks (for example, N95 or KN95 respirators).</p> <p> There are many <a href="/niosh/topics/publicppe/community-ppe.html" class="">different types of masks</a> that have varying abilities to block viruses depending on their design and how well they fit against your face. Cloth masks generally offer lower levels of protection to wearers, surgical/disposable masks usually offer more protection, international filtering facepiece respirators (like KN95 respirators) offer even more, and the most protective respirators are NIOSH Approved® filtering facepiece respirators (like N95® respirators).</p> </div> <div class="dfe-section" data-section="cdc_prevention_method"> <a class="onThisPageAnchor" id="cdc_prevention_method-steps-you-can-take" name="Steps%20you%20can%20take" title="Steps you can take"></a><h2>Steps you can take</h2> <h3><em>Individuals can</em></h3> <ul class="nested-list"> <li class="level-1">When choosing to wear a mask, choose the most protective type you can. Determine how well it fits. Gaps can let air leak in and out. Check for gaps by cupping your hands around the outside edges of the mask. If the mask has a good fit, you will feel warm air come through the front of the mask and may be able to see the mask material move in and out with each breath.<ul> </ul> </li> </ul> <ul class="nested-list"> <li class="level-1">Learn about <a href="/niosh/topics/publicppe/use.html" class="">proper technique</a> for wearing an N95 respirator.<ul> </ul> </li> </ul> <h3><em>Organizations can</em></h3> <ul class="nested-list"> <li class="level-1">Provide free, high-quality masks to your workforce or visitors in times of higher respiratory viral spread.<ul> </ul> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="dfe-section" data-section="cdc_prevention_myths"> <a class="onThisPageAnchor" id="cdc_prevention_myths-key-times-for-prevention" name="Key%20times%20for%20prevention" title="Key times for prevention"></a><h2>Key times for prevention</h2> <p>All of the prevention strategies described in this guidance can be helpful to reduce risk. They are especially helpful when:</p> <ul class="nested-list"> <li class="level-1">Respiratory viruses are causing a lot of <a href="/respiratory-viruses/data/index.html" class="">illness in your community</a>.<ul> </ul> </li> <li class="level-1">You or the people around you were recently exposed to a respiratory virus, are sick, or are recovering<ul> </ul> </li> <li class="level-1">You or the people around you have <a href="/respiratory-viruses/risk-factors/index.html" class="">risk factors for severe illness</a>.<ul> </ul> </li> </ul> <div class="dfe-block dfe-callout dfe-callout--disclaimer"><h3>Notice&lrm;</h3> <div class="dfe-callout__body"><div class="callout-desc">CDC offers separate, specific guidance for healthcare settings (<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/infection-control-recommendations.html">COVID-19</a>, <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/infectioncontrol/healthcaresettings.htm">flu</a>, and <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/infectioncontrol/guidelines/index.html">general infection prevention and control</a>). <a href="https://www.hhs.gov/ocr/index.html" class="tp-link-policy" data-domain-ext="gov">Federal civil rights laws<span class="visually-hidden sr-only" aria-label=" external icon" role="img"></span><span class="cdc-icon-external cdc-link-icon" aria-hidden="true" alt="external icon"></span></a> may require reasonable modifications or reasonable accommodations in various circumstances. Nothing in this guidance is intended to detract from or supersede those laws.</div> </div></div> </div> </div> <div class="cdc-dfe-body__right page-right-rail"> <aside class="page-right-rail__static noindex" role="complementary"> <div class="on-this-page " data-sid=""> <h2 class="on-this-page__heading"> On This Page </h2> <div class="card-body"> <ul> <li><a href="#cdc_prevention_overview-an-additional-strategy-to-further-protect-yourself-and-others">An additional strategy to further protect yourself and others</a></li> <li><a href="#cdc_prevention_pre-how-it-works">How it works</a></li> <li><a href="#cdc_prevention_method-steps-you-can-take">Steps you can take</a></li> <li><a href="#cdc_prevention_myths-key-times-for-prevention">Key times for prevention</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </aside> <aside class="page-right-rail__dynamic noindex" role="complementary"> <div data-related-nav></div> </aside> </div> </div> <div data-journey-next></div> <section class="container page-mobile-bar"> <time class="page-mobile-bar__item page-mobile-bar__item--date" datetime="2024-02-29 19:00:00"> February 29, 2024 </time> </section> <div class="page-content-sources noindex"> <div class="page-content-sources__header"> <a data-action="summary" class="collapsed" href="#content-sources" role="button" data-bs-toggle="collapse" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="content-sources" data-cs-toggle="">Sources</a> <a data-action="print" href="#print" class="d-none d-md-block" aria-label="print this page" onclick="window.print()">Print</a> <a data-action="share" href="#share" data-bs-toggle="dropdown" aria-label="share this page" aria-expanded="false">Share</a> <div class="dropdown-menu page-share-bar" data-popper-placement="bottom-start"> <a href="#" class="page-share-facebook"><span class="cdc-icon-facebook"></span></a> <a href="#" class="page-share-linkedin"><span class="cdc-icon-linkedin"></span></a> <a href="#" class="page-share-twitter"><span class="cdc-icon-twitter"></span></a> <a href="#" class="page-share-syndication"><span class="cdc-icon-rss"></span></a> </div> </div> <div class="page-share-container"> <div class="page-share-popup" id="page-share-popup" role="dialog"> <a target="_blank" title="Share to Facebook" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="page-share-facebook metrics-share-facebook" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov"> <span class="sr-only">Facebook</span> <span class="cdc-icon-facebook-inverse"></span> </a> <a target="_blank" title="Share to LinkedIn" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="page-share-linkedin metrics-share-linkedin" href="https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov&title=Living%20with%20High%20Blood%20Pressure"> <span class="sr-only">LinkedIn</span> <span class="cdc-icon-linkedin-inverse"></span> </a> <a target="_blank" title="Share to Twitter" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="page-share-twitter metrics-share-twitter" href="https://twitter.com/share?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov&text=Living%20with%20High%20Blood%20Pressure"> <span class="sr-only">Twitter</span> <span class="cdc-icon-twitter-inverse"></span> </a> <a target="_blank" title="Embed this Page" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="page-share-syndication metrics-share-syndicate" href="https://tools.cdc.gov/medialibrary/index.aspx#/sharecontent/https://https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/prevention/masks.html"> <span class="sr-only">Syndicate</span> <span class="fi cdc-icon-syndication-round"></span> </a> </div> </div> <div id="content-sources" class="page-content-sources__body accordion-collapse collapse"> <div class="callout callout-content-source" role="status"> <div class="callout-heading">Content Source:</div> <a class="cdc-block-link" href="/ncird/index.html">National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD)</a> </div> </div> </div> <section class="container related-pages related-pages__mobile"> <div data-related-nav-mobile></div> </section> </div> </main> <section class="site-footer container noindex"> <div class="row cdc-footer__inner"> <div class="col-lg-3 site-footer__heading"> <h2> <a href="/respiratory-viruses/index.html"> <i class="cdc-icon cdc-fa-solid cdc-fa-house"></i> <span class="cdc-footer__super-title" aria-label="Respiratory Illnesses"> <a href="/respiratory-viruses/index.html"> Respiratory Illnesses </a> <i class="cdc-icon cdc-fa-light cdc-fa-angle-right"></i> </span> </a> </h2> <p>Respiratory illnesses affect the lungs and airways. 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