What’s the story about masks?

By Michael Roizen, M.D., and Mehmet Oz, M.D. King Features Syndicate

—- Q: What’s your take on whether or not it makes a difference if we wear masks? — Jessie G., P lano , Texas

A: We’re certa in masks are an incredibly helpful way to reduce the spread of COVID-19. They’re needed whether you’re indoors or outside, visiting with family or friends, or having dinner at a restaurant — in or out — and are distanced from strangers.

1. Masks substantially reduce the amount of virus that someone who’s infected may spread and reduce the infiltration into your nose, eyes and mouth of the virus in droplets. Plus, a study in the Journal of General Internal Medicine found that many folks who wear masks but become infected end up having a lower viral load and a mild or asymptomatic case of COVID-19.

2. People who are asymptomatic can put people in jeopardy unintentionally if they don’t wear a mask. A new study published in PLOS Medicine says around 20% of cases of COVID-19 are asymptomatic.

3. If there were enough N95 masks — they block more than 99% of droplets and 95% of aerosolized virus — we’d say use ‘em. But for some reason, the Defense Production Act hasn’t been invoked to make an adequate supply available for frontline workers, let alone everyday folks. So, we suggest you use surgical or cloth masks. Researchers tested 11 homemade fabric masks and found “two layers of highly permeable fabric, such as T-shirt cloth, blocks droplets with an efficiency (greater than 94%) similar to that of non-N95 medical/surgical masks, while being approximately twice as breathable.” Remember: Wash them after each use. P.S. On the other hand, don’t fall for KN95’s — over 80% of these fail to be better than cloth masks.