Andrea Augustine

However, masks can still be a good idea for some people, and they still may be required in some situations. Here’s what you need to know about masking and staying prepared for the future.

The current masking guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend the combined use of COVID-19 vaccines, booster shots and situational masking to prevent severe COVID-19.

Whether you should wear a mask depends on your chance of getting severe COVID-19 and how fast COVID-19 is spreading in your community. Of course, it’s fine if you want to continue wearing a mask, even if you don’t necessarily need one.

Here’s what to consider when deciding if you should still mask up:

If you’re at high risk of getting a severe case of COVID-19, wearing a mask will help keep you safe. It can also be a good idea to talk to your doctor about monoclonal antibodies and other treatments that can reduce your chance of severe COVID-19. You may be at greater risk of getting a severe case of COVID-19 if:

If there is still a high level of COVID-19 spread in your community, it’s a good idea to wear a mask. While much of Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa are at low to medium risk, there are still areas where the risk of transmission remains high. So, it’s important to check COVID-19 transmission rates for your county before deciding if you should mask up. Here’s what the CDC recommends based on transmission rates:

Masks may still be required or requested in some situations and locations – for example, when traveling during COVID-19. So, it’s a good idea to look for masking guidelines before heading out of the house and to keep a clean mask with you in case you need it.

It’s totally fine to keep wearing a mask if it makes you feel more comfortable – even if you live where there’s low community transmission and you don’t have health risks for severe COVID-19. This can also be a good idea because even if you get vaccinated, breakthrough cases of COVID-19 are still possible.

Getting the COVID-19 vaccine and booster shots when eligible is still the best thing you can do to reduce your chance of getting a serious case of COVID-19 or spreading it to others.

But masking, along with the COVID-19 vaccine and booster shots, further reduces your chances of getting a serious case of COVID-19. And if you’re less likely to get a serious case of COVID-19, you’re also much less likely to have serious long-haul COVID-19 symptoms that can last for months.

Handling your mask safely helps make it even more effective at limiting the spread of germs. Follow these steps to put on your mask the right way:

There are a variety of masking choices, including cloth masks, surgical masks, KN95 masks, KF94 masks and N95 respirators.

Earlier in the pandemic it was important to reserve N95 masks for front-line workers. Now that they are more widely available, should everyone wear them? Not necessarily.

If you live in a part of the country with a high risk of COVID-19 transmission, finely woven cloth masks and disposable surgical masks offer good protection against the spread of COVID-19. However, masks work best if everyone else is masking up as well.

So if you’re wondering if you should switch to N95, KN95 or KF94, consider where you’re going and who you’ll be around. Are other people wearing masks? Will you be around people who may be unvaccinated or have COVID-19?

The biggest differences between these masks are in the following areas:

If you decide to wear a N95, KN95 or KF94, watch out for fakes. The CDC estimates that about 60% of available respirators are fake and they’ve provided tips to identify approved respirators. Also, try to avoid use of N95 respirators labeled for surgical or medical use – these masks should be prioritized for health care workers, so they have the right protection to safely do their jobs.

You may be able to reuse a N95, KN95 or KF94 mask a few times, as long as you take care of your mask between uses. But it really depends on where you’re wearing the mask and for how long.

If you’re wearing one of these masks for a few hours a day, you might be able to wear the same mask for a week or so. But if you live in an area with high community transmission and spend 8 hours or more around people who might have COVID-19, it’s probably safer to toss your mask at the end of the day.

No matter what type of mask you choose, here are some key things to look for:

We provide more details about how to care for your masks below, but here are the highlights:

You should avoid wearing:

Keep your masks in tip-top shape by handling, storing and cleaning them properly.

If you’re planning on reusing your mask, you’ll want to be more careful about how you take it off and store it. When you’re done wearing it, use clean hands to pull it off by the ear straps so you don’t touch the front. Then store the mask separately so it can’t touch your other items – perhaps in its own paper bag.

When it’s time to use the mask again, pick it up with clean hands and make sure it doesn’t have rips or tears before putting it on again. You’ll also want to be sure that the mask still fits well.

And, of course, any time you touch a mask that’s been used – whether you’re taking it off or putting it on – you should wash your hands to make sure you remove any germs that may have been on the outside of the mask.

Sometimes it’s hard to know where your day will take you, so keeping a small stash of masks in your car, purse, backpack and office makes it easy to grab one and go – no matter what’s on your schedule.

Wearing a mask doesn’t have to be a drag. KN95 and KF94 masks come in a variety of colors so you’re not limited to plain white face coverings. You could wear a mask that shows off your favorite sport or animal, or choose a mask that matches your outfit. Look at masks as a way to express yourself!

Masks aren’t one size fits all – literally.

If you find your mask is uncomfortable, always slipping or too tight against your skin, don’t give up. Most likely, you have a mask that’s too big, too small or not made from the right material. As a result, it’s not feeling right to you.

Effective masks come in many shapes and sizes, and they’re made from many kinds of materials. Look around for another mask to find one that feels better. Eventually, you’ll discover one that’s just right.

Sometimes it can be hard to see the point of safety precautions – especially since the pandemic has been going on for quite some time. This is a normal and natural thought called “caution fatigue” or “mask fatigue.”

Here are some tips to help overcome mask fatigue:

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