Why masking is required

Doug Ducey issued an executive order March 25 lifting all state COVID restrictions on businesses and barring cities and counties from enforcing mask mandates except in government buildings and on public transit. Previously, Arizona required face-covering for employees and customers of barbers and cosmetologists, and several jurisdictions, including the state's largest counties, had full mask orders in place. Asa Hutchinson lifted his 8-month-old mask mandate March 31, saying the state had met targets for COVID case counts set out several weeks earlier as a basis for rescinding the order.

Health officials continue to recommend that Arkansans wear masks in public when unable to maintain 6 feet of distance from people outside their households. A new state law bars local governments from imposing mask mandates. Learn more: Read the Arkansas health department's mask guidance.

Masks are required statewide for unvaccinated individuals in indoor public settings and workplaces, and for all people age 2 and over in schools, health care and long-term care facilities, correctional facilities, homeless and emergency shelters, and on public transit.

Several large jurisdictions have local indoor mandates covering all residents, regardless of vaccination status, including Los Angeles County which also requires face-covering at large outdoor events , Sacramento County and most Bay Area counties.

San Francisco and Marin counties relaxed their restrictions Oct. Learn more: Read California's updated state face-covering guidance. Face-covering is required in residential care facilities and on public transportation, regardless of vaccination status.

Boulder County mandates masking for people age 2 and up in public places indoors unless the owner or operator of a business or facility requires proof of vaccination for all entrants. Learn more: Read the Colorado health department's updated mask guidance. Masks are required for unvaccinated people age 2 and over in indoor public places and for all people in school buildings, health care facilities, group residential settings such as nursing homes and prisons, and on public transit.

The cities of New Haven and Hartford instituted indoor mask mandates covering both vaccinated and unvaccinated people after Gov. Ned Lamont signed an executive order allowing local governments to impose rules more stringent than the state's. John Carney lifted Delaware's general mask order May The state continues to require face-covering in schools, state-owned buildings and settings where the CDC recommends maintaining mask rules, such as on public transit and at health care facilities.

Otherwise, masking is recommended for unvaccinated and partially vaccinated Delawareans in public places. Learn more: Read Delaware's updated mask policy. Masks are required in indoor public places for all people over age 2, whether vaccinated or not. Face-covering is also required for all residents in schools, health care facilities and District government buildings and on public transit.

Learn more : Read the D. Florida recommends but has not required face coverings for the general public. Several cities and large counties, including Miami-Dade, Palm Beach and Hillsborough which includes Tampa , had mask requirements, but Gov. Ron DeSantis issued an executive order May 3 that barred local governments and school systems from imposing COVID restrictions, including mask rules.

Brian Kemp sought last summer to bar local mask mandates but eased his order in August to allow cities and counties to impose limited face-covering rules. Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms announced July 28 that the city is reinstating mask requirements for all people in public settings indoors. David Ige lifted the state's outdoor mask mandate May Hawaii's amended mask directive still requires residents ages 5 and up to wear a face-covering in most indoor public settings and requires businesses to refuse admission or service to maskless patrons in most circumstances.

Learn more: Read Hawaii's amended face-covering order. Boise, Idaho's capital and largest city, dropped its mask mandate in May, as did several other juristictions.

Brad Little signed an executive order May 28 restoring local governments' authority to make their own mask rules, reversing a move by Lt. Janice McGeachin to strip such local control in an order she issued while Little was at a conference out of state.

Masks are required in indoor public settings for people over age 2, regardless of vaccination status, except when they are actively eating or drinking in bars and restaurants or at workplaces where they can consistently maintain 6 feet of distance from others. Previously, the state's mask mandate only applied to people who have not been inoculated against COVID Learn more: Read Illinois' expanded face-covering order.

The state's 8-month-old mask mandate became a "mask advisory" April 6. Hoosiers age 8 and up are encouraged to wear masks in all indoor public settings and outdoors when they cannot maintain 6 feet of distance from others. Local mask orders in Indianapolis and surrounding Marion County expired June 7. Learn more: Read Gov.

Eric Holcomb's executive order relaxing mask rules. Reynolds signed legislation May 20 restricting schools' and local governments' authority to require masks. Iowa City issued a mask mandate covering public places citywide Aug. Kansas lawmakers revoked the state's mask requirement April 1, hours after Gov.

Laura Kelly issued an executive order intended to extend it, under a state law passed the previous month that gave a panel of top legislators authority to overturn the governor's emergency orders. Learn more: Read the Kansas health department's mask guidance. Masks are still required for people over age 5 in certain settings, including schools and child-care centers, medical and long-term care facilities, prisons, homeless shelters, and on public transit.

Learn more: Read a statement from Gov. Back to the top. Face-covering is required in indoor public places for all people age 5 and older, regardless of vaccination status. John Bel Edwards cited Louisiana's "insufficient vaccination rate" and rapid rise in COVID cases and hospitalizations in reinstating the state mask order in early August, three months after it was lifted.

The mandate is in effect until at least Oct. Learn more: Read Louisiana's new mask mandate. As of May 24, "Maine is no longer requiring masks in most settings," according to the state's face-covering FAQs. People ages 5 and older still must mask up indoors at schools and child-care facilities under Gov. Janet Mills' latest face-covering order.

The state continues to recommend masking for people who are not yet fully vaccinated. Masking remains the rule on public transportation and in transit hubs, per a federal mandate. Learn more: Read a statement and FAQs from the governor's office on ending Maryland's emergency orders. The state's general face-covering order was lifted May Masks are still required for people age 5 and older in some settings, including K schools, health care and long-term care facilities, emergency shelters, prisons and on public transportation.

Boston has imposed a citywide mask mandate covering all people over age 2 in indoor public places except when eating or drinking. Springfield, the state's third-largest city, requires face-covering in indoor public settings and at outdoor gatherings where social distancing cannot be maintained. Learn more: Read Massachusetts' updated guidance on face-covering. The state had already lifted mask orders for fully vaccinated Michiganders in indoor public places and for all people outdoors.

Face-covering will still be required to "protect vulnerable populations" in long-term care facilities, prisons and housing for farm workers. Masks are still required in schools and child care settings.

Minneapolis and St. Paul lifted municipal indoor mask orders June 1 and 2, respectively. He subsequently issued a new order mandating masks in indoor public settings in counties with high COVID case rates. That directive, which eventually covered most of the state, expired March 3. Face-covering is still required at K schools. Face covering is required in indoor public spaces in Kansas City for all people age 5 and over, regardless of vaccination status, until at least Nov.

Louis County issued a new indoor mask order Sept. The previous order, issued by then-Gov. Steve Bullock in July, directed Montanans age 5 and up to wear masks in indoor public spaces and at outdoor gatherings where social distancing could not be maintained. Gianforte signed legislation in May invalidating local mask mandates, effectively ending face-covering orders in Gallatin, Missoula and other counties.

The recommendation that fully vaccinated people continue wearing masks is primarily intended to protect the unvaccinated — which includes kids under age 12 who are not yet eligible for vaccines in the U. The CDC further recommends masking in public for vaccinated people with unvaccinated household members, regardless of local community transmission rates. Preliminary data suggests that the rise of variants like delta may increase the chance of breakthrough infections in people who received only their first vaccine dose.

The data is more reassuring for those who have been fully vaccinated. Other recent preliminary reports from highly vaccinated countries like Israel and Singapore are sobering, however.

In all reports and studies, however, vaccines remain very good at preventing hospitalizations and severe disease due to the delta variant — arguably the outcomes we most care about. Most of the world still has low vaccination rates and uses a range of vaccines with variable efficacies , and countries have different burdens of circulating SARS-CoV-2 virus.

With U. Additionally, some experts worried that an official message that the vaccinated should don masks might dissuade unvaccinated individuals from seeking vaccines. Some locations are seeing further increase in community transmission, even among vaccinated people. New preliminary research yet to be peer reviewed suggests the delta variant is associated with a viral load a thousand times higher in patients than seen with older strains.

And early reports show infected vaccinated people with the delta variant can carry just as high an amount of virus as the unvaccinated that they can in turn spread to others. The bottom line? This is an updated version of an article originally published on July 22, This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license.

Read the original article. Masks may not be necessary when you are outside by yourself away from others, or with people who live in your household. However, some areas may have mask mandates while out in public, so please check the rules in your local area such as in your city, county, or state.

Additionally, check whether any federal mask mandates apply to where you will be going. CDC continues to study the effectiveness of different types of masks and update our recommendations as new scientific evidence becomes available.

On This Page. Types of masks Other Types of Face Protection Situations where wearing a mask may not be possible Certain groups of people who may find it difficult to wear a mask. Not Recommended. Cloth masks More effective fabrics for cloth masks are Tightly woven fabrics, such as cotton and cotton blends Breathable Two or three fabric layers Less effective fabrics for cloth masks are Loosely woven fabrics, such as loose knit fabrics Single layer CDC is currently studying the effectiveness of various cloth mask materials.

Medical procedure masks sometimes referred to as Surgical Masks or Disposable Face Masks Medical procedure masks are single-use masks that are not made of cloth and are not designed to be washed or laundered. Masks with exhalation valves or vents CDC does not recommend using masks with exhalation valves or vents. NIOSH-approved N95 respirators N95 respirators are critical supplies that should be prioritized for healthcare workers and other medical first responders to prevent supply shortages.

Clear masks or cloth masks with a clear plastic panel Clear masks or cloth masks with a clear plastic panel are an alternative type of mask for people who interact with People who are deaf or hard of hearing Young children or students learning to read Students learning a new language People with disabilities People who need to see the proper shape of the mouth for making appropriate vowel sounds for example, when singing.

Top of Page. If you use this type of mask, make sure You can breathe easily Excess moisture does not collect on the inside of the mask You remove the mask before sleeping, since the plastic part could form a seal around your mouth and nose and make it hard to breathe The FDA recently approved a transparent pdf icon [ KB, 3 Pages] external icon medical mask. Other Types of Face Protection CDC does not recommend external icon using face shields or goggles as a substitute for masks.

Face shields and goggles For example, people who interact with those who are deaf or hearing impaired may find that a face shield is better than a mask when communicating.

If you must wear a face shield instead of a mask: Choose a face shield that wraps around the sides of your face and extends below your chin or a hooded face shield.

This is based on the limited available data that suggest these types of face shields are better at preventing spray of respiratory droplets. Wash your hands after removing the face shield. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth when removing it. Mask adaptations and alternatives CDC recognizes that wearing masks may not be possible in every situation or for some people.

Situations where wearing a mask may not be possible Make sure to maintain physical distance from others when you cannot wear a mask. Dining CDC recommends wearing a mask while dining in a restaurant, particularly indoors and when speaking with restaurant workers and servers, except when actively eating or drinking. The risk of COVID spread increases in a restaurant or bar setting as interactions within 6 feet of others increase. Water activities Do not wear a mask when doing activities that may get your mask wet, like swimming at the beach or pool.

A wet mask can make it difficult to breathe and may not work as well when wet. High intensity activities Masks should always be used in public settings, but if you are unable to wear a mask because of difficulty breathing during high intensity activities, choose a location with greater ventilation and air exchange for instance, outdoors versus indoors and where you can keep at least 6 feet of distance from others during the activity.

If such a location is not available, opt for low-intensity activities such as walking or yoga that allow for mask wearing. If you are able to wear a mask, remove your mask if it gets moist from sweat and replace it with a clean mask.

Opt for an activity that does not require using mouth guards or helmets. Wearing a mask with these types of protective equipment is not safe if it makes it hard to breathe.

Supervise children who are wearing a mask while playing sports. Certain groups of people who may find it difficult to wear a mask Some children 2 years and older, and people of any age with certain disabilities Appropriate and consistent use of masks may be challenging for some children and for people of any age with certain disabilities, including people who have high sensitivity to materials on their faces, difficulty understanding why wearing a mask is protective such as those with an intellectual disability , or those who have problems controlling their behavior.

When determining if children and people with certain disabilities should wear a mask, assess their ability to: Use a mask correctly Avoid frequent touching of the mask and their face Limit sucking, drooling, or having excess saliva on the mask Remove the mask without assistance Those caring for children and people with certain disabilities who may need assistance with wearing masks should Ask their healthcare provider for advice about the person you are caring for wearing a mask.

Masks may not be necessary when you and the person you are caring for are outside and away from others, or with other people who live in the same household. However, some localities may have mask mandates while out in public and these mandates should always be followed. Masks should not be worn by: Child under 2 years of age A person with a disability who cannot wear a mask, or cannot safely wear a mask, for reasons related to the disability A person for whom wearing a mask would create a risk to workplace health, safety, or job duty as determined by the workplace risk assessment external icon People who are deaf or hard of hearing, and those who will interact with people who are hearing impaired If you interact with people who rely on reading lips, you may have difficulty communicating while wearing a mask.

Consider wearing a clear mask or a cloth mask with a clear panel If you are not able to get a clear mask, consider using written communication, closed captioning, or decreasing background noise to make communication possible while wearing a mask that blocks lips People with certain underlying medical conditions Most people with underlying medical conditions can and should wear masks. If you have respiratory conditions and are concerned about wearing a mask safely, discuss with your healthcare provider the benefits and potential risks of wearing a mask.

If you have asthma , you can wear a mask. Discuss with your healthcare provider if you have any concerns about wearing a mask. Outdoor workers If you work in a setting where masks could increase the risk of heat-related illness or cause safety concerns for example, straps getting caught in machinery : Discuss with an occupational safety and health professional what mask would be suitable. Prioritize wearing masks indoors and when in close contact with other people, like during group travel or shift meetings.

Some localities may require wearing masks in public while outdoors, and these requirements should be followed.

In cold weather, wear masks under winter gear such as scarves and ski masks. If masks become wet from breathing or snow, replace them with dry ones. Keep one or more backups for this purpose. What to do if you find wearing a mask uncomfortable?