Protect yourself and your loved ones against Covid-19!
Here are some face masks we recommend…
1) If possible, try to get a N95, KN95 or KF94 face mask. They currently offer the best protection, insulation and filtration against Covid-19. (This is why N95 face masks are also called N95 respirators.) However, if the face mask you’re considering has valves in them, that type of face mask isn’t recommended because those valves won’t filter the air that you breathe out. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also recommends that N95 face masks specially labeled as “surgical” be prioritized for healthcare workers. For more info, see: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/types-of-masks.html.
2) If you’re a healthcare worker: of the N95, KN95 and KF94 face masks, it’s the N95 masks that have U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) to be used in U.S. healthcare settings. Certain surgical masks also have FDA Umbrella EUA to be used in those settings. However, you need to be careful that you’re not getting a counterfeit N95 face mask. See https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19-emergency-use-authorizations-medical-devices/personal-protective-equipment-euas for more info.
3) If you can’t get an N95, KN95 or KF94 face mask, the next best option is to wear layers of two or more cloth or surgical face masks over your face to have multiple layers of protection. Please note that a surgical mask offers better protection than a cloth mask. If you do get a cloth face mask, try to get one that has a pocket so you can insert a filter, such as a coffee filter.
4) Whichever face masks you can get, make sure that the top of the mask is snug against the top of the bridge of your nose, that the mask covers over your nostrils and your mouth, and that the bottom of the mask fits snugly over the bottom of your chin.
5) One size doesn’t fit all! If you’re an adult, it’s best to get a face mask sized for adults, who have larger, wider and longer faces. For your child, it’s best to get a children’s face mask, which is best fitted for children’s faces that are smaller than adults’ faces.
For more info or to find a vaccine site near you, visit https://vaccinefinder.nyc.gov/
If you would like someone to book an appointment for you or your child ages 5+, or if you would like an at-home appointment for you or your child ages 5+, email vaccine@epicenter-nyc.com or call (917) 818-2690.
