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CIBOLA COUNTY, N.M. – Americans have many choices when choosing to purchase a face mask. Studies have shown that wearing a mask significantly decreases the chances of transmitting or contracting the coronavirus, according to health officials.

Wearing a mask protects the individual but only if it is made from approved materials and meets recommendations for a proper fit.

Correctly fitting masks effectively prevent the spread of large droplets that could infect someone else. People tend to frequently readjust ill-fitting masks. This can lead to an increased possibility of becoming infected with the coronavirus and can contribute to the spread of germs from touching infected surfaces and then touching the face.

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has warned that not all masks provide equal protection. Depending on the fabric and number of layers, homemade and simple cloth masks have a range of effectiveness that can be as low as 26 percent. The N95 masks are the other end of the scale. This type is considered the gold standard in personal protective equipment because it utilizes a unique electrostatic filter that blocks 95 percent of large and small airborne particles.

The CDC has identified five popular styles that are ineffective in preventing exposure to COVID-19 and to other airborne infections such as seasonal flu.

People should avoid wearing masks made from plastic or leather because these materials make it difficult for the wearer to breathe.

Stay away from wearing loosely woven, knit, and lacy facial coverings that let light pass through the fabric. These types allow respiratory droplets exhaled by those nearby to pass through and infect the wearer. The loose mesh has the potential to break the respiratory droplets into smaller droplets that can stay airborne for a longer period, which may result in an increased exposure, according to Daniel Burnett, MD, chief executive officer for JustAir, a company that manufactures face masks and clean air systems.

A good quality mask should have at least two or three layers. This style is more likely to filter out airborne particles than items made from only one layer. Ideally it should be constructed with three layers: an innermost layer made of water-absorbing material, a middle filter layer plus an outer layer made with water-resistant material.

The CDC does not recommend masks with valves or vents because this style allows respiratory droplets to escape which can infect other people. Most major U.S. airlines have banned this type and so have numerous cities and counties across the U.S.

Scarves and other headwear such as ski masks and balaclavas are usually made of loosely knit fabrics and are not suitable for use as masks; these coverings do not prevent COVID-19 transmission, according to the CDC. These items have the same drawbacks as an improperly fitting mask including inadequate filtering of airborne droplets and often require frequent readjustment. These head coverings, which provide protection from cold weather, can be worn over a quality mask.

Social distancing and wearing a mask when away from home are simple steps that people can take to slow community spread, according to medical authorities.

The vaccine program in New Mexico has encouraged Cibola County residents to feel more optimistic about the end of the pandemic. County Emergency Manager Dustin Middleton commented on Jan. 22 that it seems that there has recently been a slight decrease in community spread.

“However, it doesn’t mean we are out of the woods yet. We still have a ways (sic) to go in the battle with COVID-19,” he said via email.

Approximately 1,500 inoculations have been completed to date in the county. Vaccine pods are conducted weekly, Monday and Wednesday; COVID testing is scheduled for Tuesday and Thursday each week. Area residents who want to be tested and/or vaccinated are required to pre-register, https://cvtestreg.nmhealth.org, explained the county emergency manager.

The Covid-19 vaccines authorized for use in the U.S. are approximately 95 percent effective at preventing people from getting sick with symptoms, according to Pfizer and Moderna, the companies that produce them. But scientists are still studying whether vaccination prevents transmission to others. There is not enough evidence yet on whether the vaccines prevent asymptomatic infection. “Most vaccines prevent

“Most vaccines prevent disease as opposed to preventing infection,” explained Anna Durbin, a professor of international health at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health who is working on the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine trial and previously worked on the Pfizer vaccine trial, according to https://www.wsj.com/articles/, Jan. 18.

Visit https://cvtestreg.nmhealth.org/ and www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/ for more information.