CLEVELAND — The CDC says it's time to up your mask game to combat omicron.
The best way to do that? An N95.
"If you are unvaccinated and unmasked in indoor group settings, you're asking to be exposed to omicron," Cuyahoga County Board of Health Commissioner Terry Allan said during a Wednesday news conference.
Northeast Ohio health leaders are applauding the White House decision to send out 400 million non-surgical N95 masks.
"That's going to be a prime opportunity for individuals to pick up free N95s," Chris Barker, emergency preparedness supervisor at Summit County Public Health, stated. "I think that will definitely help the community and help access to this type of protection."
The masks are coming from the government's strategic national stockpile to pharmacies and community health providers. CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid and Giant Eagle pharmacy locations all confirmed to 3News they'll be handing them out, hopefully as soon as the end of next week.
Residents will be able to pick up three masks per adult, but child sizes are not available.
"Please consistently wear a high-quality mask," Cuyahoga County Board of Health Medical Director Dr. Heidi Gullett said. "It's essential to wear a mask at this point in time, and it will also keep you from getting the flu or other circulating viruses."
Last Friday, the CDC updated its mask guidelines, emphasizing how an N95 — which is designed and tested to filter 95 percent of particulates — could offer better protection. Barker says you may even consider buying one now.
"It depends on the type of exposures that you have and the level of risk to you, or the type of interactions you may have," he explained. "It definitely will offer an increased level of protection because of the tight fit, but that's the most important thing, to ensure it does fit pretty well on you.
"It's designed to create a very good seal around the face. That’s why it's also important to be sure that mask fits pretty securely around the face. That it's on right around your ears, around the back of your neck and head. That it's pushed down against your nose. Also, being clean shaven is a factor that influences that tight fit."
While an N95 is disposable, Baker says it can be re-worn if not dirty, wet or damaged. The masks can be expensive, running $1 or more per piece. You want to make sure you're buying the real thing.
"The NIOSH website, which is the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, actually lists N95 approved respirators," Baker added. "That's the best location to get an actual approved type of N95. You can see the make and model of, and what actually has been vetted through the NIOSH program."
The Chinese KN95 and the Korean KF94 equivalent masks are harder to vet, as they're not approved stateside. NIOSH found nearly 60% of those it did test did not meet stated requirements.
When in doubt, a cloth mask is now considered the lowest level of protection. A surgical mask alone, or one layered with a cloth mask, is a safer option.
"A surgical mask is better than a cloth mask, and certainly layering masks is better than a single mask," Allan said.
Cuyahoga County reports its confirmed COVID-19 cases are continuing to drop, almost at the same rate that they rose in the omicron peak. In the last seven days, the county reported 10,000 new cases, which amounts to about eight times the CDC threshold for high transmission. At peak, the county was at 13 times that level.
The stress is still on prevention through masking and vaccination, the latter of which the county says has stalled since they holidays. Anti-viral treatments, both through IV antibodies and the oral anti-viral, remain in short supply.
"We don't have enough right now to go around," Gullett said of the medications, "so stopping transmission and preventing future infections is our best bet here."