CDC and WHO (World Health Organization) constantly change their recommendations and get you confused about which face mask is best to wear, is this kind of mask enough to protect you from coronavirus, and so on.
And they are somewhat right.
We don’t have enough data to know it all.
But the best practices already emerged, and if you follow these practices, you get a better chance of avoiding catching covid-19 or any other airborne disease and helping yourself preserve your precious health.
1. Wearing any mask is better than wearing no mask (even a scarf or cloth). At least you’ll have some protection from the current coronavirus and, more importantly, limit spreading the virus if you’re sick.
2. The kind of face mask best protects against coronavirus is the N95 surgical-grade mask. They are pricey and not always available freely. Respirators may protect you from covid-19, but they don’t shield those around you. You inhale air through a mask but exhale contaminated air through a filter. So if you’re sick, you’re as contagious and potentially as dangerous for other people as without any respirator.
3. The next best thing is the KN95-type mask. With 5 layers of protection it can significantly reduce your chances to contract a disease from other people (but not wholly, of course).
4. Regular non-medical blue masks. They are, too, reduce the possibility of contracting the coronavirus. Still, like any masks, they only capture sneeze and cough particles and can’t stop the coronavirus, obviously.
Anyway, you can’t assume you’re protected enough if you’re wearing a mask. So, keep your distance, wash your hands, avoid crowds, and don’t forget to change masks frequently.
We don’t have enough research about covid-19 to make the conclusion but listen to the health officials. They wish you good health, want to protect you, and know what they’re talking about.