CDC Acknowledges Cloth Masks Are Less Effective Than Others
3 years, 2 months ago

CDC Acknowledges Cloth Masks Are Less Effective Than Others

Huff Post  

LOADING ERROR LOADING The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention conceded Friday that cloth masks are less effective than surgical or respirator masks as protection against COVID-19. “Loosely woven cloth products provide the least protection, layered finely woven products offer more protection, well-fitting disposable surgical masks and KN95s offer even more protection, and well-fitting NIOSH-approved respirators offer the highest level of protection,” according to the new guidance issued Friday. But the CDC didn’t go so far as to say cloth masks are inadequate against this strain of the virus ― something some public health experts say is apparent given the transmission rates. Instead, the new guidance says respirator masks, such as N95 or KN95 masks, “may be considered in certain situations and by certain people when greater protection is needed or desired.” That may include scenarios involving infected patients or people with co-morbidities, or when social distancing is not possible, the CDC said.

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It’s Your Last Chance To Get These 80%-Off Face Masks
11 months, 4 weeks ago

It’s Your Last Chance To Get These 80%-Off Face Masks

Huff Post  

MaskC Use code FAREWELL at checkout to save 80% on all remaining MaskC inventory. MaskC, a face covering brand whose colorful and fashion forward masks have been worn by the likes of Eva Longoria, Jennifer Garner and even a Kardashian or two, reported in an email to customers that they are closing up shop and offering a whopping 80% off …

I'm an A&E doctor and this is why it's time to start wearing masks again... as experts issue dire warnings over a virulent new Covid variant
1 year, 2 months ago

I'm an A&E doctor and this is why it's time to start wearing masks again... as experts issue dire warnings over a virulent new Covid variant

Daily Mail  

It’s that time again. Dr Saleyha Ahsan says she always wears a mask in crowded places Now one of the UK’s leading experts, Sir Andrew Pollard, who is a professor of infection and immunity at the University of Oxford, is predicting ‘a rise in infections in the population over the course of the next week’, driven by a highly infectious …

Mask mandates reinstated by local officials across the country as Covid-19, respiratory illnesses spread
1 year, 2 months ago

Mask mandates reinstated by local officials across the country as Covid-19, respiratory illnesses spread

The Independent  

Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Local officials across the US are reinstating mask mandates in hospitals …

Why no one is talking about new mask rules even as COVID-19 rises in L.A.
1 year, 6 months ago

Why no one is talking about new mask rules even as COVID-19 rises in L.A.

LA Times  

Despite rising coronavirus outbreaks across Los Angeles County, officials said they have no plans for new public mask mandates — a sign of how COVID-19 policies have changed in an era of plentiful vaccines, lower death rates and back-to-normal culture. “We have such good tools right now that we really shouldn’t get there.” California COVID outbreaks hit workplaces, schools across …

As U.S. COVID hospitalizations rise, some places are bringing mask mandates back
1 year, 7 months ago

As U.S. COVID hospitalizations rise, some places are bringing mask mandates back

NPR  

As U.S. COVID hospitalizations rise, some places are bringing mask mandates back Enlarge this image toggle caption Spencer Platt/Getty Images Spencer Platt/Getty Images The U.S. is seeing a late-summer spike in COVID cases, prompting some schools, hospitals and businesses to encourage — or even require — people to start masking up again. And the CDC warned last week that BA.2.86 …

Return of masks? COVID-19 cases surge; new variant ‘Pirola’ causes concern
1 year, 7 months ago

Return of masks? COVID-19 cases surge; new variant ‘Pirola’ causes concern

Live Mint  

COVID-19 cases in the United States have surged to levels reminiscent of the peak experienced last winter, causing concerns over the emergence of a new highly mutated variant known as "Pirola" BA.2.86 and the impending respiratory virus season. Dr. Georges Benjamin, the Executive Director of the American Public Health Association, highlights that masking remains a potent tool for mitigating COVID-19 …

COVID-19: should we start wearing masks again?
1 year, 7 months ago

COVID-19: should we start wearing masks again?

The Hindu  

One thing that can be guaranteed about COVID-19 is that evolution will provide us with a more or less constant stream of new coronavirus variants, some of which will be more successful at infecting people. It’s this worry that there may be a new wave of infections that has got some people talking about the need to reintroduce measures that …

Mask study published by NIH suggests N95 Covid masks may expose wearers to dangerous level of toxic compounds linked to seizures and cancer
1 year, 7 months ago

Mask study published by NIH suggests N95 Covid masks may expose wearers to dangerous level of toxic compounds linked to seizures and cancer

Daily Mail  

Experts said this could make newly instated mask mandates ineffective A study published in April found disposable masks can have toxic chemicals The surgical N95 mask has been held up as the gold standard when it comes to protecting against Covid. The study found that the chemicals released by these masks had eight times the recommended safety limit of toxic …

Atlanta college brings back Covid mask mandates as Government doctors in Seattle call for face coverings to be compulsory for healthcare workers - amid rise of new Covid variant BA.2.86
1 year, 7 months ago

Atlanta college brings back Covid mask mandates as Government doctors in Seattle call for face coverings to be compulsory for healthcare workers - amid rise of new Covid variant BA.2.86

Daily Mail  

This is because patients in the hospital are likely to be vulnerable due to age Calls for Covid face masks to return are ramping up amid increasing virus rates and the rise of a highly-mutated new variant. Morris Brown College, a private liberal arts school, is requiring students and employees to wear face masks in hallways and lecture halls for …

Column: COVID lab leak? Mask mandates? Why are we still having these fights?
2 years, 1 month ago

Column: COVID lab leak? Mask mandates? Why are we still having these fights?

LA Times  

On Monday, the White House announced there is no consensus in the Biden administration about whether COVID-19 sprang from a leak in a virus laboratory in China or was the result of a leap from another species to humans. I reserve my anger for the way the government under former President Trump bungled its response to the disease, the way …

Column: COVID deniers claim a new study says mask mandates don’t work. They should try reading it
2 years, 1 month ago

Column: COVID deniers claim a new study says mask mandates don’t work. They should try reading it

LA Times  

What is it about conservative COVID deniers and masks? Assuming he bothered to read the study all the way through, he seems to have missed this important admonition in the text: “The high risk of bias in the trials, variation in outcome measurement, and relatively low adherence with the interventions during the studies hampers drawing firm conclusions.” Something else he …

Wearing masks did ’little to nothing’ to help curb Covid spread, study reveals
2 years, 1 month ago

Wearing masks did ’little to nothing’ to help curb Covid spread, study reveals

Live Mint  

Face masks have done ‘little to nothing’ to curb the Covid-19 transmission, a new scientific review titled “Physical interventions to interrupt or reduce the spread of respiratory viruses” suggested. It conducted research on the findings of 78 randomized controlled trials to find out whether the physical interventions, including face masks and hand wash, limited the spread of respiratory diseases. “Wearing …

Masks made little or no difference in Covid-19 spread, new study suggests
2 years, 1 month ago

Masks made little or no difference in Covid-19 spread, new study suggests

India TV News  

A new review led by 12 researchers from universities around the world has examined whether wearing face masks helped prevent the spread of Covid-19. According to the study published by the Cochrane Library, "Wearing masks in the community probably makes little or no difference" in controlling the spread of Covid-19. However, it's important to note that the review included studies …

The Best Face Masks To Shop Right Now
2 years, 3 months ago

The Best Face Masks To Shop Right Now

Huff Post  

In anticipation of potential coronavirus surges this winter, the Biden administration is once again offering free COVID tests and making contingency plans to provide personnel and equipment in the event any health systems are overwhelmed. If you want to err on the side of caution or go that extra mile to help protect the immunocompromised people in your life, but …

Done with masks? Too bad, because COVID isn't done with us
2 years, 3 months ago

Done with masks? Too bad, because COVID isn't done with us

LA Times  

I’m Paul Thornton, and it is Saturday, Dec. 10, 2022. I don’t know how else to respond, but what I have noticed is that people who would just rather not wear masks cite the disclaimers, caveats and qualifiers mentioned by highly regarded scientists such as Dr. Anthony Fauci and run with them — while ignoring that these experts strenuously favor …

A new L.A. mask mandate would have less value at this stage of the pandemic, some experts say
2 years, 8 months ago

A new L.A. mask mandate would have less value at this stage of the pandemic, some experts say

LA Times  

As successive waves of COVID-19 have swept across the Southland, Michael Matteo Rossi, a 35 year-old filmmaker who lives in Los Feliz, has gamely masked up whenever he shopped, ate out or visited with his parents, who are in their 70s. Barbara Ferrer, director of L.A. County Department of Health, announced plans to reinstate an indoor mask mandate if the …

Just how big is this COVID surge? As reported tests fall off, it’s harder to say
2 years, 8 months ago

Just how big is this COVID surge? As reported tests fall off, it’s harder to say

LA Times  

In Sherman Oaks, Julia Irzyk tries to gauge how rampant the coronavirus is in her community, turning to a constellation of data points to guide her. “In many states, many counties, it’s only once a week.” Between the rise in home testing that goes unreported, budgetary reductions in testing services, and mild or asymptomatic infections going unnoticed, “we don’t really …

Which mask to wear indoors to protect against Covid-19? Health official suggests
2 years, 8 months ago

Which mask to wear indoors to protect against Covid-19? Health official suggests

Live Mint  

Health experts and researchers continue to recommend wearing the face mask for personal protection against the Covid-19 virus even as countries battle the decision to issue mask mandates as Covid-19 cases continue to fluctuate. Global health leader and epidemiologist Dr Tom Frieden has said that those who are worried about getting Covid-19 infection while surrounded by others who do not …

A third of US should be considering masks, officials say
2 years, 10 months ago

A third of US should be considering masks, officials say

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — COVID-19 cases are increasing in the United States — and could get even worse over the coming months, federal health officials warned Wednesday in urging areas hardest hit to consider reissuing calls for indoor masking. “Prior increases of infections, in different waves of infection, have demonstrated that this travels across the country,” said Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the CDC …

COVID-19 surges to fresh peak in WA with a record 10,394 new cases, but hospitalisations steady
2 years, 10 months ago

COVID-19 surges to fresh peak in WA with a record 10,394 new cases, but hospitalisations steady

ABC  

Western Australia has reported a new record in COVID-19 case numbers with another 10,394 infections. Key points: The number of new cases is over 200 more than the previous peak The number of new cases is over 200 more than the previous peak Infections have surged since WA dropped its indoor mask mandate Infections have surged since WA dropped its …

There’s a lot at stake for the CDC in the mask mandate appeal
2 years, 10 months ago

There’s a lot at stake for the CDC in the mask mandate appeal

LA Times  

A passenger wears a mask aboard a Delta Air Lines flight. The appeal could set the parameters for the CDC’s authority in the next outbreak, and public health experts fear the lower court’s decision effectively closes “off future actions for a disease like this one,” said Erin Fuse Brown, director of the Center for Law, Health and Society at Georgia …

CDC reiterates need for masks on planes and trains amid fears of rising Covid cases
2 years, 10 months ago

CDC reiterates need for masks on planes and trains amid fears of rising Covid cases

The Independent  

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy US health officials have …

We lack research data on how masks help us keep covid away
2 years, 11 months ago

We lack research data on how masks help us keep covid away

Live Mint  

After a judge overturned a mandate of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention requiring US airline passengers to wear masks aboard aircraft, transport security systems stopped enforcing masking at airports. While science has brought us great advances in pharmaceutical interventions such as vaccines and covid treatments, it’s provided little new information about the value of non-pharmaceutical interventions such …

CDC extends travel mask requirement to May 3 as COVID rises in US
2 years, 11 months ago

CDC extends travel mask requirement to May 3 as COVID rises in US

Al Jazeera  

Omicron subvariant BA.2 infections increase as US approaches one million deaths in the coronavirus pandemic. The Biden administration announced on Wednesday that it is extending the nationwide mask requirement for public transit and air travel for 15 days as it monitors an increase in COVID-19 cases in the United States. Airlines for America, a trade group, on Wednesday in a …

America’s new dystopian normal
3 years ago

America’s new dystopian normal

Al Jazeera  

The United States has all but declared the COVID-19 pandemic over and done with. Two years ago, I predicted that the US as a “failing state” would do the bare minimum to protect ordinary people, and would sell the idea that despite the evidence, Americans can lead “normal lives” in the middle of a pandemic. Nearly 80 million Americans have …

COVID pandemic: Pentagon says masks 'no longer required indoors'
3 years ago

COVID pandemic: Pentagon says masks 'no longer required indoors'

India TV News  

Highlights The Pentagon on Mar 2 announced that "masks are no longer required indoors" at the building The decision was made per new guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention The CDC last week eased its mask recommendation for most Americans The Pentagon announced on Wednesday that "masks are no longer required indoors" at the building. The decision …

These KN95 COVID Face Masks Are Half Off Right Now
3 years ago

These KN95 COVID Face Masks Are Half Off Right Now

Huff Post  

Amazon Get this box of 60 KN95 masks for half off on Amazon. These contoured KN95 masks feature a five-layer design, which the manufacturer claims can block 95% or more of airborne particles in varying sizes. An adjustable noseband and soft, flexible ear elastics help keep masks secure and provide a customizable fit. It’s worth mentioning that although the National …

Florida’s new coronavirus guidance: ‘Buck the CDC’
3 years, 1 month ago

Florida’s new coronavirus guidance: ‘Buck the CDC’

Associated Press  

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and state Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo on Thursday announced new coronavirus policy recommendations that discourage mask-wearing and push physicians to use off-label medications to treat the virus. “We are empowering health care practitioners to follow science, not Fauci’s status quo.” The announcement came a day before President Joe Biden’s administration is expected to …

CDC to significantly ease pandemic mask guidelines Friday
3 years, 1 month ago

CDC to significantly ease pandemic mask guidelines Friday

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — The Biden administration will significantly loosen federal mask-wearing guidelines to protect against COVID-19 transmission on Friday, according to two people familiar with the matter, meaning most Americans will no longer be advised to wear masks in indoor public settings. The change comes as nearly all U.S. states that had put in place indoor mask-wearing mandates for the winter …

Coronavirus FAQ: I'm a one-way masker. With mask mandates going away, is that helpful?
3 years, 1 month ago

Coronavirus FAQ: I'm a one-way masker. With mask mandates going away, is that helpful?

NPR  

Coronavirus FAQ: I'm a one-way masker. Sponsor Message So a number of people are "one-way maskers" — the terms used for those who mask up even if others around them do not. "One-way masking isn't doing that," says Kristen Coleman, an assistant research professor at the University of Maryland School of Public Health. "It just means that it doesn't offer …

CDC to significantly ease pandemic mask guidelines Friday
3 years, 1 month ago

CDC to significantly ease pandemic mask guidelines Friday

LA Times  

The Biden administration will significantly loosen federal mask-wearing guidelines to protect against coronavirus transmission on Friday, according to two people familiar with the matter, meaning most Americans will no longer be advised to wear masks in indoor public settings. In Los Angeles County, the CDC’s new guidance could affect the decision on when a local indoor public mask mandate would …

Michigan stops urging masks in schools, other public places
3 years, 1 month ago

Michigan stops urging masks in schools, other public places

Associated Press  

LANSING, Mich. — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s administration on Wednesday stopped recommending that masks be worn inside schools and other public places to curb COVID-19 in Michigan, pointing to a drop in cases and hospitalizations. While Michigan hasn’t had statewide mask policies since last June, this updated guidance will underscore that we are getting back to normal,” the Democratic governor said …

Federal health officials say they will soon update COVID-19 masking guidance
3 years, 1 month ago

Federal health officials say they will soon update COVID-19 masking guidance

LA Times  

CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky, shown testifying before Congress in November, told reporters on Wednesday that her agency would soon issue new guidance on mask-wearing. Federal health officials said Wednesday that they will soon update their guidance on mask wearing, even as several states have recently dialed back mandates requiring people to wear face coverings while indoors. In a White …

US government plans to make high-quality masks available for kids, White House adviser says
3 years, 1 month ago

US government plans to make high-quality masks available for kids, White House adviser says

CNN  

CNN — High-quality masks for children soon might be easier to find in the United States, if government plans come to fruition. The US government plans to make high-quality face masks available for children, and “that process is underway,” Dr. Tom Inglesby, senior adviser to the White House Covid-19 Response Team, told CNN on Wednesday. “Already, 230 million masks have …

5 Things COVID Experts Need To See Before They'll Go Maskless At The Office
3 years, 1 month ago

5 Things COVID Experts Need To See Before They'll Go Maskless At The Office

Huff Post  

Catherine McQueen via Getty Images COVID experts say they'll consider several factors before going without a mask in the office. This week, the governors of nearly a dozen states, including California, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut and New Jersey, said they would soon lift or loosen indoor mask mandates, citing COVID-19 vaccination rates, “the extremely low risk for young people” and …

COVID conflict: Democratic governors skip ahead of Biden and CDC on easing mask mandates
3 years, 1 month ago

COVID conflict: Democratic governors skip ahead of Biden and CDC on easing mask mandates

LA Times  

Kathy Hochul listens as President Biden speaks during a meeting with the National Governors Assn. “Governors are picking up on a sense that voters simply won’t tolerate mask mandates any longer,” said Julia Lynch, a political scientist at the University of Pennsylvania. The administration continues to recommend indoor masking in areas of high transmission, which, according to White House Press …

Here’s why mask mandates are falling across the US
3 years, 1 month ago

Here’s why mask mandates are falling across the US

Associated Press  

As the omicron wave of the coronavirus subsides, several U.S. states including Nevada, New York and Illinois ended mask mandates this week for indoor settings, while others lifted requirements at schools. Steve Sisolak said the requirement for masks in public places would be lifted “effective immediately.” State casino regulators quickly followed with an order eliminating the mandate for casinos “unless …

We asked healthcare professionals about their face masks of choice for everyday use
3 years, 1 month ago

We asked healthcare professionals about their face masks of choice for everyday use

Salon  

New data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Friday emphasizes the importance of wearing the right mask while in a high-risk setting. "These data from real-world settings reinforce the importance of consistently wearing face masks or respirators to reduce the risk of acquisition of SARS-CoV-2 infection among the general public in indoor community settings," the CDC said …

Fox News guests use questionable lockdown study to launch misleading attacks on masks, vaccines
3 years, 1 month ago

Fox News guests use questionable lockdown study to launch misleading attacks on masks, vaccines

Salon  

UPDATED: This story was updated at 2:20pm to include commentary on the Studies in Applied Economics whitepaper from scientists at the MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis in London. Experts are tired of debunking him The study was published in a publication called Studies in Applied Economics, which is not a peer-reviewed journal and describes itself as a "series …

Popular And Fashionable Face Masks From MaskC For Everyday Wear
3 years, 1 month ago

Popular And Fashionable Face Masks From MaskC For Everyday Wear

Huff Post  

MaskC MaskC offers KN95 masks in a variety of colors like earth tones and neons. Masks are no longer simply protective measures, they add touch of flair and express a little personality ― at least for the many celebrities who have sampled the fashion forward and chic mask offerings of MaskC. MaskC sells two main kinds of masks: non-woven surgical-style …

Too many masks: WHO cites glut of waste from COVID response
3 years, 2 months ago

Too many masks: WHO cites glut of waste from COVID response

LA Times  

The World Health Organization says overuse of gloves and “moon suits” and the use of billions of masks and vaccination syringes to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus have created a huge glut of waste worldwide. The World Health Organization says overuse of gloves and “moon suits” and the use of billions of masks and vaccination syringes to help …

Should you wear a cloth mask, or an N95 to avoid Omicron? US health experts answer
3 years, 2 months ago

Should you wear a cloth mask, or an N95 to avoid Omicron? US health experts answer

India TV News  

Highlights Cloth and surgical masks do nothing for protection from ambient virus, said a US top expert Evidence of the the N95's superiority to the cloth mask has been well-documented. "Cloth and surgical masks do absolutely nothing for protection from ambient virus," said Chad Roy, a microbiologist at Tulane University School of Medicine, referring to the virus spreading through the …

Covid: How well do face masks protect us against the virus?
3 years, 2 months ago

Covid: How well do face masks protect us against the virus?

The Independent  

Sign up to our free Living Well email for advice on living a happier, healthier and longer life Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. …

Why is it better to wear an N95 than a cloth mask right now?
3 years, 2 months ago

Why is it better to wear an N95 than a cloth mask right now?

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — Why is it better to wear an N95 than a cloth mask right now? It’s especially important now with health care systems under strain, and with people in higher-risk situations such as crowded, indoor settings for extended periods, says Linsey Marr, who studies viruses at Virginia Tech. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently updated …

Biden to give away 400 million N95 masks starting next week
3 years, 2 months ago

Biden to give away 400 million N95 masks starting next week

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — The Biden administration will begin making 400 million N95 masks available for free to U.S. residents starting next week, now that federal officials are emphasizing their better protection against the omicron variant of COVID-19 over cloth face coverings. President Joe Biden embraced the initiative after facing mounting criticism this month over the inaccessibility — both in supply and …

Omicron Scare: Are N95 Masks Need of the Hour or Are Cloth Masks Still Safe?
3 years, 2 months ago

Omicron Scare: Are N95 Masks Need of the Hour or Are Cloth Masks Still Safe?

News 18  

Health experts suggest stepping up protection against the highly contagious omicron variant with stronger masks such as N95s or KN95s. It’s especially important now with health care systems under strain, and with people in higher-risk situations such as crowded, indoor settings for extended periods, says Linsey Marr, who studies viruses at Virginia Tech. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and …

Free N95 masks to be made available at pharmacies, White House says
3 years, 2 months ago

Free N95 masks to be made available at pharmacies, White House says

Live Mint  

BY SABRINA SIDDIQUI | UPDATED JAN 19, 2022 05:00 AM EST Distribution of 400 million masks comes as the Biden administration is also offering free rapid tests to combat the spread of Covid-19 The Biden administration on Wednesday is expected to announce plans to make 400 million N95 masks available free at pharmacies and community health centers across the country, …

White House to distribute 400 million N95 masks for free, starting next week
3 years, 2 months ago

White House to distribute 400 million N95 masks for free, starting next week

LA Times  

The Biden administration plans to start distributing next week millions of N95 masks, like the one nurse Lindsay Bowker is shown wearing in Kirkland, Wash. The Biden administration plans to distribute 400 million high-quality masks to Americans for free starting next week in the hopes of offering better protection against the Omicron variant of the coronavirus, the White House announced …

Joe Biden to give away 400 million N95 masks starting next week
3 years, 2 months ago

Joe Biden to give away 400 million N95 masks starting next week

India TV News  

Highlights 400 million N95 masks will be available for free to Americans starting next week. The Biden administration will begin making 400 million N95 masks available for free to Americans starting next week, now that federal officials are emphasizing their better protection against the omicron variant of COVID-19 over cloth face coverings. The White House said the masks will be …

Covid-19: Is it Time to Stop Wearing Cloth Masks and Switch to Respirators?
3 years, 2 months ago

Covid-19: Is it Time to Stop Wearing Cloth Masks and Switch to Respirators?

News 18  

Respirators have been mandatory in public places in Austria for a year. Respirators, often wrongly called “masks” because of their appearance, are personal protective equipment made to a particular standard and designed to prevent inhalation of hazardous airborne contaminants. While some surgical masks may have better filtration capacity than cloth masks, they were designed primarily to prevent the emission of …

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