The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has changed its guidelines about masks and respirators often over the past two years. The most recent update on January 14 states that cloth face coverings offer the least protection from the coronavirus compared with surgical masks or N95-style masks. The CDC’s updated guidelines clearly lay out the hierarchy of protection.
Mechanical engineer Christian L’Orange has been testing the performance of masks for the state of Colorado since the beginning of the pandemic. He explains the new CDC guidelines and the science of what makes for a good mask.
The identification of differences between N95, surgical and cloth masks are important considerations for medical professionals with or without Covid-19 concerns.
Source: Fast Company, January 28, 2022. Link.