As the organization stated in its updated mask guidelines, “CDC does not recommend use of masks or cloth masks for source control if they have an exhalation valve or vent.” The organization further explained its warning, highlighting why this type of mask puts others at risk. “The purpose of masks is to keep respiratory droplets from reaching others to aid with source control. However, masks with one-way valves or vents allow air to be exhaled through a hole in the material, which can result in expelled respiratory droplets that can reach others,” the CDC cautioned. Kai Singbartl, MD, chair for infection prevention and control at the Mayo Clinic in Arizona recently spoke with USA Today about the dangers of this type of mask. “It defeats the purpose,” Singbartl said. He explained that while valves make it “easier to exhale and get rid of the heat and moisture,” they also contaminate the surrounding air with unfiltered aerosols. Notably, people have been ejected from businesses, hospitals, and flights for wearing this dangerous mask design, which leaves others at risk of COVID exposure. However, according to the CDC, there is one exception to the rule: “An N95 respirator with an exhalation valve does provide the same level of protection to the wearer as one that does not have a valve,” the organization’s website notes. This is the only mask with a valve considered safe enough to maintain a sterile field and prevent viral transmission. So, the next time you head out in public, opt for a mask with complete coverage of the nose and mouth—one without a valve or vent. Otherwise, you’re giving yourself and others a false sense of security, while putting those around you at risk. And for more on which masks are safest, Watch Bill Nye Test Which Face Masks Work the Best.ae0fcc31ae342fd3a1346ebb1f342fcb
