Everything You Need to Know About Masks

Published February 15, 2022
See all editions of Covid in Focus here.

Help Your Campus Community Choose High-Quality Masks

Masking is one of the most effective strategies we have to slow the spread of COVID-19. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is encouraging Americans to choose well-fitting masks, emphasizing that respirators like N95 and KN95 masks offer the most protection. And the federal government is working to provide free N95 masks at grocery stores, pharmacies, and community health centers.

We know that communicating about masks can be tricky — after all, mask requirements are shifting in many communities. As the pandemic continues, you can empower students, faculty, and staff to choose well-fitting, high-quality masks by sharing the information below.

Tips to Share with Students, Faculty, and Staff

Share the following tips to help your students, faculty, and staff stay healthy. You can copy and paste the content below into your own communication materials (like emails, campus news articles, and blog posts).

Mask Up to Keep Our Campus Community Healthy

Need a new mask? You should be able to get 3 free N95 masks at [Campus communicators: Add nearby places that have free masks here. If you’re not sure, you can say “local pharmacies and grocery stores.”]

We know there’s a lot of information about masks floating around, so let’s keep it simple. Here’s what you need to know:

What type of masks work best?

N95 or KN95 masks work best because they fit very close to your face, and they’re made of synthetic material — a special material that’s good at blocking out tiny particles of the COVID-19 virus. Keep in mind that these masks aren’t washable. You can only wear each mask a few times, then you’ll need to get a new one.

If you can’t wear an N95 or KN95 mask, your best bet is to double mask. Wear a cloth mask on top of a surgical mask (the thin disposable masks that some healthcare providers wear). If you’re looking for a new cloth mask, choose one that has more than one layer of fabric and fits close to your face.

The most important thing is to choose a mask that:

Fits close to your face
Is comfortable enough for you to actually wear it when you go out. After all, your mask won’t help anyone if it’s sitting in your room!

Where can I get masks?

Don’t forget, you should be able to pick up 3 free N95 masks at [Campus communicators: Add nearby places that have free masks here. If you’re not sure, you can say “local pharmacies and grocery stores.”]

If you need to buy masks, check out ProjectN95.org. Some stores on Amazon and other websites have been selling fake masks that don’t really work, so it’s important to make sure your mask is the real thing. Here’s what to look for when you check your mask.

Why do I need to wear a mask?

Masks can help slow the spread of COVID-19. Many people get COVID-19 and never feel sick. When you wear a mask, you’re less likely to pass the virus to others. So by wearing a mask, you can help protect everyone, including people who are more likely to get very sick — like older people, pregnant people, and people with chronic health issues and disabilities. As a bonus, masks help protect everyone from colds and the flu, too!

Social Media Content to Share with Students, Faculty, and Staff

You can post this content on your campus social media accounts to help students, faculty, and staff stay healthy.

Facebook and Instagram Post

Need a new mask? You should be able to pick up 3 free N95 masks at [Campus communicators: Add nearby places that have free masks here. If you’re not sure, you can say “local pharmacies and grocery stores.”]

Twitter Post

Images for Sharing

Download and share these images on your social media channels or website: