ATLANTA, GA-People age 2 and older should wear masks in public settings and when around people who don’t live in their household. Masks offer some protection to you and are also meant to protect those around you, in case you have COVID-19, but don’t know it. A mask is NOT a substitute for social distancing and should still be worn in addition to staying at least 6 feet apart from others. However, masks may not be necessary when you are outside by yourself away from others, or with other people who live in your household.
Considerations for Wearing Masks
What you need to know
People age 2 and older should wear masks in public settings and when around people who don’t live in their household.
Masks offer some protection to you and are also meant to protect those around you, in case you are unknowingly infected with the virus that causes COVID-19.
A mask is NOT a substitute for social distancing. Masks should still be worn in addition to staying at least 6 feet apart.
Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol after touching or removing your mask.
Masks may not be necessary when you are outside by yourself away from others, or with other people who live in your household. However, some localities may have mask mandates while out in public and these mandates should always be followed.
CDC is still studying the effectiveness of different types of masks and will update our recommendations as new scientific evidence becomes available.
Your mask helps protect those around you
COVID-19 spreads mainly from person to person through respiratory droplets. Respiratory droplets travel into the air when you cough, sneeze, talk, shout, or sing. These droplets can then land in the mouths or noses of people who are near you or they may breathe these droplets in.
Masks are a simple barrier to help prevent your respiratory droplets from reaching others. Studies show that masks reduce the spray of droplets when worn over the nose and mouth.
You should wear a mask, even if you do not feel sick. This is because several studies have found that people with COVID-19 who never develop symptoms (asymptomatic) and those who are not yet showing symptoms (pre-symptomatic) can still spread the virus to other people. The main function of wearing a mask is to protect those around you, in case you are infected but not showing symptoms.
It is especially important to wear a mask when you are unable to stay at least 6 feet apart from others since COVID-19 spreads mainly among people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet).
Your mask offers some protection to you
Your mask offers some protection to youA cloth mask also offers some protection to you too. How well it protects you from breathing in the virus likely depends on the fabrics used and how your mask is made (e.g. the type of fabric, the number of layers of fabric, how well the mask fits). CDC is currently studying these factors.
