Masks Information

Face Covering Requirements

Most counties in the Bay Area are now requiring that anyone, over 12 years old, who goes out for essentials needs to wear a face covering, especially while waiting in line or inside any essential business, using public transit, riding in a taxi/Lyft/Uber or seeking healthcare, as well as anytime you come within 6 feet of someone from outside your household.  The City of Berkeley’s Health Officer issued an order requiring that essential businesses such as the campus require their employees to wear a face covering at work, subject to specific exceptions.  We are now requiring that our faculty and staff who are on campus wear face coverings.

Roles of a Mask or Face Covering

The primary role of wearing a covering is to reduce the release of infectious particles into the air when someone speaks, coughs, or sneezes, including someone who has COVID-19 but feels well. Cloth face coverings are not a substitute for physical distancing and washing hands and staying home when ill.

Here are examples of the various types of masks that are being used to protect public health.

 

N-95 Respirators

About N-95 Respirators

Protect the wearer from breathing in airborne particles like viruses, bacteria, dust, wildfire smoke, and other particulate matter.

Employees with occupational exposures are required to wear these including healthcare workers and lab researchers. Because these masks make it harder to breathe, medical clearance is required for mandatory use, and a fit test is performed to ensure the respirator makes a good seal with the face. Facial hair must not interfere with the seal of the mask.

Voluntary use of N95s allows use without medical clearance and fit testing.  N95s are disposable and not intended for reuse in most cases.

Please do not buy or stock up on N-95s or surgical masks.

Please do not buy or stock up on surgical masks or N-95s. Preserve the limited supply of medical-grade masks such as an N-95 for health care workers or first-responders, who cannot use physical distance to protect themselves, especially from people at their most symptomatic, infectious period.  The City of Berkeley is collecting PPE donations through their website. All these donations will be vetted/ distributed to healthcare facilities, EMS partners, and Skilled Nursing Facilities/Long-term Care Facilities depending on need.

Cloth Masks

About Cloth Masks

These masks are sewn from cotton fabrics and constructed to look like a surgical mask, sometimes with a pleated panel. They function like a surgical mask, so long as the fabric weave is thick enough to prevent droplet penetration when coughing and sneezing.  Cloth masks should be washed before reuse.

A cloth face covering is a material that covers the nose and mouth. It can be secured to the head with ties or straps or simply wrapped around the lower face. It can be made of a variety of materials, such as cotton, silk, or linen. A cloth face covering may be factory-made or sewn by hand or can be improvised from household items such as scarfs, T-shirts, sweatshirts, or towels. Make sure the covering is comfortable – you don’t want to have to keep adjusting the mask, which means touching your face.  Always wash your hands, or use hand sanitizer, before and after touching your face or face coverings.

How to Make a Cloth Mask

from the CDC

How to Properly Wear and Care for Your Cloth Face Covering

From UC Berkeley EH&S: Video - How to Properly Wear and Care for Your Cloth Face Covering

Dust Masks

About Dust Masks

These look like N95 respirators but they may not have the proper certifications that N95s have (e.g. NIOSH certification). 

Dust masks are okay for voluntary use. They are typically sold in hardware stores for people who need protection from sawdust and other construction work.  Dust masks are disposable.

Neoprene Masks

About Neoprene Masks

These masks are typically designed for sports use where wind and thermal protection is desired.  Because the material is thick, it can prevent the spread of droplets from the mouth and nose, depending on mask design.  Neoprene fabrics are washable and reusable. Masks should be washed before reuse.

KN95 Masks

About KN95 Masks

Equivalent to N95 respirators, but are not cleared by the FDA and typically used in China.  With worldwide supply shortages of N95s in America, more KN95 masks are starting to appear in this country.

Surgical Masks

About Surgical Masks

These masks are not considered respirators; they do not filter out particles to the extent that N95 and KN95 masks do. Surgical masks contain droplets and spittle from the mouth and nose of the wearer.  Because they do not make a tight seal with the face, particles can enter around the edges of the mask. Surgical masks are disposable and not designed for reuse in most cases.

Bandanas and Gaiters

About Bandanas and Neck Gaiters

Cotton or synthetic materials are used to make these.  The material is often thin for improved breathability, which means a decreased ability to contain droplets.  Layering the fabric can help improve containment. Neck gaiters are made of stretchy synthetic fabric which makes them comfortable to wear.  Please note the CDC is evaluating the effectiveness of neck gaiters but their effectiveness is unknown at this time. Cloth bandanas tied behind the head may be uncomfortable for extended wear. Bandanas and neck gaiters should be washed before reuse.

Any face covering is better than nothing.

Follow any use instructions provided with commercially manufactured face masks. Remember to continue 6-ft social distancing, wash hands with soap and water (or use hand sanitizer), stay home if sick, cough or sneeze into the elbow. When removing a mask, avoid touching the inside of it, and wash hands.  Launder cloth masks before reuse.


For additional information on best practices for when and how to use masks, please refer to the World Health Organization’s coronavirus disease (COVID-19) advice for the public resource.

Additional Resources:

COVID-19 Flyer, University of California 

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) advice for the public, World Health Organization resource

See UHS FAQ on Masks

References:

Masks FAQ

Should everyone be wearing a mask or face covering when they go out?

At this time in the Bay Area it is required that you wear a cloth face covering when you must be in public places for essential needs.  Their primary role is to reduce the release of infectious particles into the air when someone speaks, coughs, or sneezes, including someone who has COVID-19 but feels well. Cloth face coverings are not a substitute for physical distancing and washing hands and staying home when ill, but they may be helpful when combined with these primary interventions.

A cloth face covering is a material that covers the nose and mouth. It can be secured to the head with ties or straps or simply wrapped around the lower face. It can be made of a variety of materials, such as cotton, silk, or linen. A cloth face covering may be factory-made or sewn by hand, or can be improvised from household items such as scarfs, T-shirts, sweatshirts, or towels. Make sure the covering is comfortable – you don’t want to have to keep adjusting the mask, which means touching your face.  Always wash your hands, or use hand sanitizer, before AND after touching your face or face coverings.

Please do not buy or hoard surgical masks or N-95s. Preserve the limited supply of medical grade masks such as an N-95 for health care workers or first-responders, who cannot use physical distance to protect themselves, especially from people at their most symptomatic, infectious period.  The City of Berkeley is collecting PPE donations through their website. All these donations will be vetted/ distributed to healthcare facilities, EMS partners, and Skilled Nursing Facilities/Long-term Care Facilities depending on need.

Staying home, washing hands regularly, and avoiding touching your face remain essential ways to avoid infection and flatten the curve in our community to ensure adequate hospital capacity.

Can students pick up free masks at Tang? 

The Tang Center has a limited supply of paper masks for students seen for respiratory symptoms, but we cannot supply the general student population. A bandana, fabric mask, neck gaiter or other cloth barrier may help prevent those who have mild or no COVID-19 symptoms from unknowingly spreading it to others.  Please see CDPH guidance for more information.  Supplies are short nationally: please preserve them for healthcare providers providing face:face care of infectious patients and stay home instead.

Are you accepting mask donations?

UHS has enough PPE for our staff. Please consider donating to the City of Berkeley.

How do I make a cloth mask?

You’re encouraged to cover your nose and mouth with cloth when leaving home, to further reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus per the city of Berkeley. A bandana, fabric mask, neck gaiter or other cloth barrier helps prevent those who might have COVID-19 but mild or no symptoms from unknowingly spreading it to others. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have a guide to creating a cloth face covering out of materials you likely have at home.