Thread by @HuffmanLabDU

Several counties in Colorado put a #MaskMandate order into effect starting today: cpr.org/2021/11/23/den…
It's a great time to remind people that masks aren't all the same. Any mask is more effective than no mask, but better fit & filtration quality upgrades protection.
Short 🧵

https://twitter.com/CPita3/status/1424203077897367552

2/ There are so many great articles & resources on choosing a good mask, I picked just a few examples.
This article by @yeahyeahyasmin in @TheAtlantic is a great discussion of the need to wear #BetterMasks:
theatlantic.com/health/archive…

3/ This article by @tanyalewis314 is another good example that goes through reasons for #BetterMasks.
scientificamerican.com/article/why-we…

4/ This article by a team of high-level experts in bioaerosols & PPE from @CIDRAP wrote this more detailed article on the science of what masks can do:
cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspecti…

5/ If you haven't seen this article from Oct. 2020, it has some amazing visuals of how masks work -- from the perspective of a particle trying to fly through.
nytimes.com/interactive/20…

6/ This article has some comments more specifically related to kid's masks, but the principles apply more widely as well.

https://twitter.com/HuffmanLabDU/status/1438297404202049537?s=20

7/ The CDC page on mask guidance took a while to be useful, but has made improvements in the last couple months and has some pretty good information now.
cdc.gov/coronavirus/20…

8/ @CleanAirCrewOrg gathers info on various topics related to #COVIDisAirborne prevention. This page discusses mask quality & use:
cleanaircrew.org/masking-behavi…

9/ I put a thread together in February of this year, especially to point out some of the important aspects of choosing a mask with better fit.

https://twitter.com/HuffmanLabDU/status/1357816943290449920?s=20

10/ This short thread by @CPita3 covers the most important pieces of choosing a good mask:

https://twitter.com/CPita3/status/1424203069286408199

11/ You may have seen various people say choose a mask with good: comfort, fit, and filtration. I like the slight twist @meganranney put; choose a "good-fitting mask that gets WORN" well.
(But not a 'well-worn mask' like I recently said with confusion)

https://twitter.com/meganranney/status/1443608010127982601

12/ If you're looking for info & testing on high-quality masks, @masknerd has done a great job of doing tests on masks & reporting freely via Twitter & elsewhere:

https://twitter.com/masknerd/status/1441531736572276740?s=20

13/ Now that supply chain issues to buying N95 masks aren't limits, they can be a great solution for most people. You can buy them at plenty of local retailers; look for the NIOSH symbol. Or check out @projectn95, which is a non-profit that vets & sells high-quality masks.

14/ There are SO many good resources on why #BetterMasks are important, where to find them, and why. Just scan through the media tab here and search (Cntrl-F) i.e. for "mask."

https://twitter.com/HuffmanLabDU/status/1445138747226411014?s=20