Mask Update

mentatdgt for Pexels

I've noticed recently (maybe especially since the Omicron variant came about?) that more people are wearing masks out in public - in stores definitely, but even at outdoor events where there could be crowds. However, there's still a large number of people blissfully walking around with all their face holes out and open 🤷‍♀️

From the beginning of this pandemic, cloth and homemade masks were just supposed to be a stopgap until higher quality masks were more readily available. We now have some surgical masks, and though I hate the waste of disposable products, these are now my preferred choice. (I do use them probably longer than I should, in an effort to get as much life as possible from them.) I usually have a cloth mask with me as back-up, in case the disposable one should break or something. My husband usually grabs for the cloth ones first, though.

According to this article, we should be wearing higher quality masks by now if possible. "Your cloth mask is still OK but not necessarily the best protection you can have. ...There is some evidence that surgical face masks are potentially a bit better than cloth masks." But it sounds like ultimately the best mask is the one you'll wear (i.e. one that's comfortable for you). I've had a hard time with fitting masks to my face, but I don't find the paper ones uncomfortable at all now.