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Earlier this winter, officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated their COVID-19 mask guidance to include a new recommendation for disposable medical masks and double masking specifically. And while COVID-19 vaccines are well underway for many across the nation, since current CDC guidelines say that masks will still be necessary in public spaces for the foreseeable future, people should think about upgrading their mask collection for maximized protection.
The recommendation for double masks is really based on establishing a close fit to your face — something that a disposable surgical mask can do all on its own if you manipulate its ear loops to create a firm seal against your cheeks. “Fit is important, and there are some hacks to make these masks fit better, like adding a new parallel wire to the nose band,” says Steven Rogak, PhD, a mechanical engineering professor at the University of British Columbia who has conducted field tests on face masks’ fabrics efficacy. “The ear loops can also be knotted close to the mask attachment. These things don’t universally work, but it’s crucial for every individual to find a way to make masks fit better.”
Why is this fit so important? New research published by the CDC suggests that a tight-fitting disposable medical mask (also sometimes referred to as surgical masks!) can dramatically reduce the spread of COVID-19 via airborne particles and infectious respiratory droplets. It also provides more protection: The study’s lab results suggest that tight-fitting masks could lower transmission risks by up to 96% if all parties wore them. For medical masks in particular, though, data suggests a plain disposable option alone provided more protection over cloth-based sewn masks — and when knotted for a tight fit, efficacy in reducing spread increased an additional 25%.
What makes a good disposable mask?
To be clear, double-masking or a manipulated disposable medical mask isn’t as protective against COVID-19 transmission as N95 respirators — but those are being reserved for healthcare personnel in clinical settings. If you’re looking for a disposable face mask that’s been tested and made to provide you similar protection as outlined in CDC-sponsored research, you’ll need to look for labeling that shows it conforms to certain criteria, explains Lexie Sachs, Textiles Director at the Good Housekeeping Institute.
Those guidelines come from ASTM, a group of industry professionals that develop testing standards for a myriad of products (including face masks as a whole!). The criteria for disposable masks are outlined in ASTM F2100-20, a set of standards that guide manufacturers in their design, creating top-notch medical masks as it relates to construction and fit. Sachs explains that ASTM standards dictate a need for a filtration efficiency test as well as a test for protection against any fluids in a medical setting. Manufacturers submit disposable medical masks to labs that follow ASTM protocol for testing, and based on the results brands can use one of three levels of certification; levels one through three, indicating how rigorously it was tested (3 is the most protective!).
In addition, the standards focus on:
- How well the mask can filter bacteria for the wearer
- How well the mask can filter or trap sub-micron particles
- How breathable they are, or examining differential pressure as you breathe
- How resistant the mask is when it comes to liquid, or in this case, tests involving synthetic blood
- How flammable the mask is
In short, finding a protective medical mask should always start with looking for an ASTM stamp of approval. Sachs says you should look for language from the retailer that says “Meets ASTM F2100” on any mask page you come across. Manufacturers should also clearly state which level of certification it has, with Level 3 being the most protective. While the standard isn’t required for medical face masks to be sold, it’s the easiest way for shoppers to know which ones have actually been tested independently.
Below, we’re sharing disposable medical masks that are labeled to meet ASTM standards and have earned top marks from shoppers. These masks come equipped with ear loops that can be manipulated to form a knot per CDC directions, which can help keep fit as close to your face as possible. Plus, they make for great options if you’re interested in inserting a filtering layer beneath your favorite cloth-based face masks. These are the best 7 disposable face masks to shop now:
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