GREENSBORO, N.C. — Before you take off for the road or the skies this holiday, don’t forget to pack your masks.
Cone Health Director of Infection Prevention, Dr. Cynthia Snider, says North Carolinians will likely need one this holiday to protect themselves.
“Right now, North Carolina has moved into that high transmission rate for flu," Dr. Snider said.
Dr. Snider says RSV, COVID, and the flu are spread - unknown to you - in the air.
Masking serves as a defense against getting any illnesses or spreading one.
“If you work at a crowded place and you think you’re going to have a lot of public exposure, it may make sense to wear a mask now so that you don’t get exposed and bring that back home," Dr. Snider said.
And then there’s the type of mask you wear.
In 2022, the CDC reported the effectiveness of wearing a mask among 536 participants. A cloth mask lowered the odds of testing positive for COVID by 56% while surgical masks were 66%, and the N95 masks had the highest odds of 83%.
“The best-fitting masks work the best," Dr. Snider said.
Here's what Dr. Snider advises when it comes to whether you should reuse a mask.
“People can reuse it, but if it gets moisture or staining in the metal piece or it’s not fitting well, that’s definitely a sign you need to toss it out," she said.
Bottom line, Dr. Snider says masks offer the best protection against viral illnesses.
And just as gloves were a medical invention, she says masks will soon become a normal medical addition.
“We are in that time where we are considering, especially during the respiratory seasons or if somebody has a respiratory complaint, so I would not be surprised that this becomes the norm in the winter seasons," Dr. Snider said.