I want to continue wearing masks. What kind of mask will protect me best?

Multiple studies show that the best masks in order of effectiveness are:

A well-fitting N95 mask (fits snugly to face with no gaps between your skin and the mask)
A well-fitting KN95 (fits snugly to face with no gaps between your skin and the mask)
An N95 mask (fits snugly to face, but not specifically fitted to wearer)
A KN95 mask (fits snugly to face, but not specifically fitted to wearer)
A surgical mask
A cloth mask

Because not all masks provide the same level of protection, there are several things to think about like:

How good is the fit? If air is leaking in or out, that means COVID carrying droplets can leak in and out.
How likely am I to wear the mask? The best mask for you is the one that offers the most protection AND that you’ll wear.

The American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) released a study comparing the time it takes for COVID-19 to transmit through different kinds of masks when standing 6 feet apart.

Comparison of protection offered by different kinds of masks

The CDC has also published some helpful hacks like double masking and “knotting & tucking” to increase the efficiency of some disposable masks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzTAZDsNBe0&t=54s

Source:
https://www.acgih.org/covid-19-fact-sheet-worker-resp/ (ACGIH)
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/types-of-masks.html (CDC)
https://www.verywellhealth.com/double-mask-knotting-loops-cdc-5113148 (Verywell Health/CDC)

Updated 05/03/2022

STILL HAVE MORE QUESTIONS? READY TO GET VACCINATED?

#Repost: @hawaiidoh "Parsyn is a keiki hero! By getting the COVID-19 vaccine, she’s doing her part in protecting her ʻohana and friends. Vaccines and masks are among the most important tools to keep us safe.

Protect your whole ʻohana from COVID-19. Don't wait. Vaccinate."

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Like other viruses, the virus that causes COVID-19 changes over time. And, just like other vaccines and boosters, doctors and researchers are continually working to improve COVID-19 vaccines.

On August 31, 2022 the FDA authorized two bivalent boosters – one by Moderna and the other by Pfizer – that are specifically formulated to protect against today’s most common COVID variants, BA.4 and BA.5, in addition to the original strain of COVID. To learn more visit our website at the link in our bio.

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#Repost: @hawaiidoh "90,000 COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. could be prevented this fall if 80% of eligible people receive their booster dose, according to a new study by The Commonwealth Fund.*

Additionally, if more receive the #bivalent booster, it would prevent more than 936,000 hospitalizations and $56 billion in medical costs in the next six months.

Only about 33% of the U.S. population has received a booster dose."

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#Repost: @hawaiidoh "DOH recommends COVID-19 #bivalent booster vaccines for everyone age five and older. Bivalent boosters are designed specifically to protect against original COVID-19 and the BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron subvariants."

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We received so many questions regarding the new bivalent boosters, we gathered the questions and answers together in one place to make the information easier to find. Visit our website at the link in our bio to learn more.

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Long COVID symptoms can last months or years and range from fatigue, cough and headaches to “brain fog” and possibly permanent neurological damage. Protect yourself by staying up to date on vaccinations. Message us, follow us or visit the link in our bio for more.

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Long COVID symptoms range from cough, fatigue and joint pain to possibly permanent neurological damage. The best way to protect yourself is to avoid a severe case of COVID by keeping up to date on vaccinations. Questions? Visit the link in our bio to learn more.

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The new bivalent COVID boosters are now available in Hawaii with your healthcare provider. The new Moderna bivalent booster is only authorized for those 18 and older whose last COVID vaccination or booster was at least two months ago. And, the new Pfizer-BioNTech booster is authorized for those 12 and older whose last COVID vaccination or booster was at least two months ago. Learn more by clicking the link in our bio.

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Long COVID symptoms can last months or years, and be quite serious. The best way to protect yourself is to avoid a severe case of COVID by keeping up to date on vaccinations. For more honest info, follow us or visit the link in our bio.

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We're not just fighting COVID, flu season is upon us. It's best to continue to wear a mask if you're feeling sick or in crowded places and to stay up to date with your vaccinations. Did you know that you can schedule your flu and COVID vaccination in the same appointment? Save time and an extra trip to the doctor's office. Learn more at the link in our bio.

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Some people – including 30% of those who have a severe case of COVID – develop symptoms that can last for months or years. These include fatigue, difficulty breathing, “brain fog,” depression and anxiety. Learn how to protect yourself at the link in our bio.

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Long COVID is very real and can be debilitating. Studies show people who had a severe case of COVID are more likely to get long COVID. So, it's best to stay up to date on your vaccinations so that if you do get COVID, you are less likely to experience severe symptoms. Visit our website at the link in our bio to learn more.

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After getting COVID, some people experience long-term problems even after the virus is under control. Called long COVID, these long-term effects can vary widely – and can be devastating, affecting your ability to think, breathe, and even your mood.

While anyone can get long COVID, studies show you’re more likely to contract it if you’ve had a severe case of COVID. So, the best way to avoid long COVID is to prevent a severe case by keeping up to date with your vaccinations, including boosters. Visit the link in our bio to learn more.

Anyone can get long COVID, but your chances are way less if you manage to avoid coming down with a severe case of COVID. Keep up to date on vaccinations to stay as protected as possible. For more honest info, follow us or visit the link in our bio.

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Masks are still important to help stop the spread of COVID. Masks are still strongly recommended for people who are high risk, such as kūpuna, caregivers, the immunocompromised, and the unvaccinated.

When wearing a mask, make sure it's well-fitted. A well-fitted mask means it completely covers your nose and mouth and fits snugly against the sides of the face without any gaps. Learn more at the link in our bio.

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The best way to avoid long COVID is to NOT have a severe case of COVID. And the best way to prevent a severe case is to keep up to date with your vaccinations, including boosters. Follow us, message us or visit the link in our bio.

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Now that our keiki are back among classmates, it's important to get them vaccinated to prevent serious illness and to stop the spread of COVID-19. Having your keiki wear a mask adds a layer of safety around them and others. Visit the link in our bio to learn more.

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Flu season is underway. Keeping up to date on your flu and COVID vaccinations will keep you and others around you safe. You can even book both vaccinations at the same appointment to save you time. Visit the link in our bio to learn more.

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COVID is not over. It's still important to wear a mask if you are considered high risk or are in crowded indoor environments. Wearing a well-fitted mask is especially important. It should cover both your nose and mouth and fit snug on your face without any gaps. Learn more at the link in our bio.

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There's about a 30% chance of getting long COVID if you had a severe case of COVID. To help prevent long COVID, it's best to stay up to date on your vaccinations so that you don't get a severe case in the first place. To learn more visit the link in our bio.

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COVID-19 has changed the way we prepare for school. Keeping our children safe means making sure they are vaccinated and boosted. To keep others safe, we keep them at home when they feel sick. And we always take a mask to wear around friends and teachers in the classroom.

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#Repost: @DOH "😷COVID isn't over. When wearing a mask in large group settings, make sure it's well-fitted. That means that your mask completely covers your nose and mouth and fits snugly against the sides of the face without any gaps.

Let's be COVID akamai. Visit our website at the link in our bio."

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New medications help prevent serious illness. But don’t wait. You have to start within days of showing symptoms or testing positive. Ask your doctor for a prescription. Get honest info at the link in our bio.

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COVID-19 vaccines are the most important strategy in keeping our keiki well as they return to the classroom. Vaccines are proven safe and help prevent severe illness. To learn more visit our website at the link in our bio.

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There are new medications to help prevent serious illness from COVID-19, but you have to take them within a few days of experiencing symptoms or testing positive. If you’re high risk in any way, ask your doctor for a prescription. Get all the facts at the link in our bio.

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They could be the difference between recovering at home and a hospital stay. If you’re at-risk in any way – due to age, weight or having a medical condition – ask your doctor for a prescription FAST. You need to start within a few days of experiencing symptoms or testing positive. Follow us or visit our website at the link in our bio for more information.

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#Repost @hawaiidoh: "The coronavirus has changed how we prepare for school. Now, we make sure our children are vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19. If they feel sick, we keep them home. And we always take a mask to wear around friends and teachers in the classroom.

We can agree that in-person learning is best for our kids. It's up to us to keep our keiki as safe as possible.

Let's be COVID akamai."

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You may qualify for medications to treat COVID based on your age, weight, or common health conditions like diabetes, asthma, kidney disease, high blood pressure and many more. Get honest info at the link in our bio.

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Getting your keiki vaccinated is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. The COVID vaccines have been proven safe for children, and effective at reducing the risk of severe illness. Talk to your pediatrician to learn more or visit the link in our bio.

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Keiki may not be considered high risk for COVID-19, but they can still get sick and even hospitalized. It's important to get them vaccinated to prevent serious illness and to help stop the spread. Visit the link in our bio to learn more.

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There are new medications to help prevent serious illness, but you have to take them within a few days of experiencing symptoms or testing positive. If you’re high risk in any way, ask your doctor for a prescription. Get all the facts at the link in our bio.

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The kūpuna in your life may be afraid to ask for help. Remember to check in with them and offer to help them book their appointment for a booster.

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Actually, you need to take the new COVID-19 medications within days AFTER showing symptoms or testing positive. Ask your doctor for a prescription. You may qualify for medications to treat COVID based on your age, weight, or common health To learn more, follow us or visit our website at the link in our bio.

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"Be COVID akamai by getting your keiki up-to-date on their COVID-19 vaccinations before the start of the school year. Children ages 6 months and older are eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine."

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The more people who get vaccinated and boosted, the lower the chance that another nasty new variant is going to run wild. Message us to keep the conversation going or get more honest info at the link in our bio.

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#Repost @hawaiidoh: Hear Hawaii pediatricians from @kapiolanimedctr, @qhshawaii and @kphawaii discuss why they would vaccinate their own children.

Talk to your pediatrician or visit our website at the link in our bio for more information.

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Rigorous double-blind testing has proven safety and effectiveness. The COVID vaccine is the most closely studied in history, and it may carry some weight with you to know it’s recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. To learn more, ask your pediatrician, follow us or visit our website at the link in our bio.

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When COVID runs wild among unvaccinated populations, that’s when new variants are most likely to develop and spread. So getting vaccinated and boosted could help us avoid the next nasty new variant. Get more honest info at the link in our bio.

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A vaccine isn’t a cure. But the vaccines we have are amazingly effective at protecting you from getting COVID-19…and protecting from severe disease, hospitalization or death if you do have a breakthrough infection. Get more honest info at the link in our bio.

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As a parent, it’s the kind of question that keeps you up at night. Rest assured that the COVID vaccines were thoroughly tested before being approved for keiki. Thousands of U.S. and Canadian keiki went through rigorous, double-blind studies. Want to learn more? Ask your pediatrician, message us or visit the link in our bio.

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