Is Your Mask Really Safe?

By Francesca Haley Howard


When my family fled to our home in Connecticut last spring to escape the first wave of COVID, I remember quickly grabbing my backpack and some Fresh Direct bags filled to the brim with groceries, toilet paper, and containers of Purell for the trip. What none of us had that night: masks. It was mid-March, and at the time, no one was wearing masks on the Upper West Side where I live. In fact, politicians were advising us not to bother, insisting that masks only should be limited to health workers. Little did we know that the virus was already circulating in the air. My mother paid the price: On April 3rd, she was hospitalized with COVID-19. Doctors put her in a medically-induced coma and hooked her up to a ventilator. It was a harrowing few months and a long road to recovery, but luckily she survived. My family learned the hard way to take COVID seriously; none of us would ever leave the house now without first masking up.

I’ve accumulated a pile of masks by now, but lately, they’ve been looking a bit worn out. With spring around the corner, I’ve been thinking about investing in some fresh, new masks now that they are easy to come by. Every major clothing brand and textile company is selling masks in assorted colors, patterns, and styles. While shopping online, it dawned on me how many masks couldn’t possibly be safe. For instance, singer-songwriter Lana Del Rey posted a photo of herself wearing a mask made of mesh. How could a mask with holes that couldn’t stop a handful of skittles from getting through protective against the coronavirus? The more I shopped around, the more questions I had. Are embroidered and fashion masks safe? How about those covered with glitter, pearls, or rhinestones? Ill-fitting and poorly designed masks also entirely defeat the purpose of wearing them.

It’s been almost a year since the pandemic first hit, and most of us still don’t have access to N95 and surgical masks, which have the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) stamp of approval. This leaves many consumers with little choice but to rely on cloth masks, which are unregulated. Legislation is needed to ensure manufacturers provide clear labels indicating their masks are safe or meet minimum FDA safety guidelines. For now, the CDC recommends that cloth masks should consist of two or three layers and fit tightly around the nose and mouth. Layering different materials, such as cotton and polyester, are more effective in blocking respiratory droplets than those made of a single type of fabric. Bandanas and neck gaiters are not advised since they can break up droplets into smaller aerosol particles that are easier to inhale. And of course, it’s still crucial to social distance, sanitize hands, and practice common sense.

Vaccines are on the way, but masks continue to be our first line of defense as COVID rages across the nation.