BLACKSBURG, Va. (WFXR) — There are a few things you can do to help ease the burden on hospitals amid the recent spike in COVID-19 cases. Along with getting vaccinated and a booster shot, health officials in southwest Virginia advise people to choose the best types of face masks.
Dr. Muddasar Chaudry, an infectious disease expert, says the list is simple.
For general indoor use, Level 3 surgical masks are the go-to mask. However, there are some that are more effective.
“The higher level of masks is the N95 which are the most effective,” said Chaudry.
Chaudry says the name says it all. Health officials have reported that the mask is more than 90 percent effective at filtering out bacteria and viruses.
However, some masks — such as certain cloth masks — are not recommended by medical experts.
Since a number of cloth masks have larger pores, Chaudry says they do not filter well against bacteria and viruses.
“They should not be used. They are not very effective. They are the least effective masks sometimes depending on their makeup. They could be less than 50 percent effective,” said Chaudry.
According to Chaudry, the right type of usage with masks, along with vaccinations and boosters, can result in nearly 95 percent protection against the coronavirus.
