N95 Respirators and Surgical Masks (Face Masks)
N95 respirators and surgical masks (face masks) are examples of personal protective equipment that are used to protect the wearer from airborne particles and from liquid contaminating the face. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) also regulate N95 respirators.
It is important to recognize that the optimal way to prevent airborne transmission is to use a combination of interventions from across the hierarchy of controls, not just PPE alone.
How Face Masks Work
When someone who has COVID-19 coughs, sneezes, or talks, they send tiny droplets with the coronavirus into the air. That's where a mask can help.
A face mask covers your mouth and nose. It can block the release of virus-filled droplets into the air when you cough or sneeze. This helps slow the spread of COVID-19.
Can face masks protect me from the coronavirus?
A cloth face mask won't totally block the coronavirus. But it’s an added layer of protection for you and the people around you when you use it along with regular handwashing and social distancing measures like staying 6 feet away from others.
Types of Face Masks for Coronavirus
Masks for health care workers
N95 respirators and surgical masks should be reserved for health care workers and first responders. Because there aren’t enough of these masks for everyone, it's important that they go to the doctors, nurses, and other medical staff who need them most.
• N95 respirator masks fit tightly around your face. They filter out 95% or more of the smallest particles in the air. But they have to fit just right in order to work.
• Surgical masks are often blue with white borders. They fit loosely across your nose and mouth. These masks shield against the large droplets that come from a sick person's cough or sneeze, but they're too loose to protect against all germs. And they can't block the tiniest particles that may carry coronavirus.

Masks for non-health care workers
Cloth masks are best for people who don't work in health care. Here are some tips to keep in mind when making your own or looking for handmade masks:
• You can sew the fabric, tie it around your face, or fold it around some hair ties for ear loops.
• Use at least two layers of material.
• You might add a pocket for a filter. Be sure to take it out before you wash the mask.
• Add a copper or wire ribbon on the nose of the mask to help it fit better.
To buy other kinds of masks:
• Check hardware stores for dust masks. They look a lot like N95 respirators but don’t filter out as many particles.
• Neoprene masks can help stop the droplets that may carry the virus.
• Try using a neck gaiter -- a piece of material tied in a loop -- made of stretchy synthetic fabric. Fold it into multiple layers if the material is thin.
Face Mask Comparisons
loops vs. ties
Because you can adjust it, a mask that ties behind your head will usually fit your face better than one that loops around your ears. But ties can get tangled up in the wash, and some people prefer the fit of ear loops. They’re also better for places like hair salons and barber shops.
Filter vs. no filter
A series of layers of fabric makes more places for virus particles to stick instead of going out into the air. A filter helps in this process. But too many layers might make it hard to breathe. Use the mask that’s most comfortable so you’re more likely to keep wearing it. Be sure to check that the filter material doesn’t have something dangerous like fiberglass in it.



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