CDC New Masking Guidelines – Are You Aware?

Not long ago, the CDC (Centre for Disease Control) officials said that people who are doubly vaccinated do not need to wear masks and there was a sharp decline in the use of masks after that. However, those recommendations have now changed due to the rapid increase in the number of covid cases, and the fast-spreading Omicron variant. Following are the guidelines that one should be following for Masks at this point in time-

1. Meets ASTM F3502- This designation means that the masks are able to be used as “a means of source control for individual wearers by reducing the number of expelled droplets and aerosols from the wearer’s nose and mouth into the air,” per the ASTM.
2. Cover the wearer’s nose and mouth and fit snugly against the sides of the face and nose without gaps in a design analysis.
3. Have a way to keep the mask over the nose and mouth for the expected period of use and range of activities.
4. Have non-irritating and non-toxic materials where the mask contacts the skin.
5. Be either disposable or reusable masks.
6. Be able to be worn by people with a range of fit characteristics (excluding children under age 2), or designed with multiple sizes to allow fit for a wide variety of people.
7. Meets Workplace Performance Plus- This is the best designation a face mask can have. It indicates that a mask meets ASTM standards and provides at least 80% filtration. These masks also must be breathable and have a leakage ratio of 10 or greater.
8. It is imperative that masks have clear ratings for the consumers to know the level of protection offered by them and the masks are tested by an independent third party.

Nirvana Being’s Airific 2.0 N95 FFP2 for adults and Nirvana N95 FFP2 masks for kids are tested and certified by Nelson Labs, USA to have an extremely high and effective capture index having > 96% viral filtration efficacy and >99% particulate filtration efficacy, with the lowest breathing resistance, which allows adults and children to wear their masks for long durations.

These masks are washable and reusable for up to 500 hours and come with adjustable ear loops and nose strips to fit like a snug. They come is classic and timeless designs for adults for both formal and casual wear, and in the coolest designs for kids as the official Masks Merchandise partners for Marvel, Disney, Pixar and Barbie.

To conclude, it is safe to say that a mask is our most important weapon in the fight to protect ourselves, not just for mitigating the risks of Covid-19, but also protecting from air pollution and other communicable diseases. Masks are here to stay- so stay safe and mask up.