Masks

Boston Globe (may require subscription): Dr. Amira Roess comments on COVID variants and masks.

eander6 — Tue, 18 Jan 2022 14:43:46 +0000

Boston Globe (may require subscription): Dr. Amira Roess comments on COVID variants and masks. eander6 Tue, 01/18/2022 - 09:43

In This Story

Amira Roess, PhD, MPH

Everything you need to know about masks: What kind to get, where to buy them, and how often you can reuse them.

Topics

Masks

Omicron variant

coronavirus; covid-19

Public Health

public health faculty

CHHS in the Media

College of Health and Human Services

College of Health and Human Services Department of Global and Community Health

The Washington Post: Dr. Amira Roess comments on possible effectiveness of the decision by the Washington, D.C. government to require vaccines to enter restaurants and gyms.

eander6 — Tue, 18 Jan 2022 14:39:17 +0000

The Washington Post: Dr. Amira Roess comments on possible effectiveness of the decision by the Washington, D.C. government to require vaccines to enter restaurants and gyms. eander6 Tue, 01/18/2022 - 09:39

In This Story

Amira Roess, PhD, MPH

D.C. is requiring vaccines to enter restaurants and gyms. In most of its suburbs, it’s a very different story.

Topics

Omicron variant

Masks

coronavirus; covid-19

Public Health

public health faculty

CHHS in the Media

College of Health and Human Services

College of Health and Human Services Department of Global and Community Health

Which Masks Offer the Best Protection from the Omicron Variant?

John Brandon Cantrell — Fri, 07 Jan 2022 22:57:01 +0000

Which Masks Offer the Best Protection from the Omicron Variant? John Brandon C… Fri, 01/07/2022 - 17:57

In This Story

Amira Roess, PhD, MPH

Infectious disease expert explains the differences between common types of face masks and how to wear them best to stay protected from COVID-19.

Amira Roess, professor in the Department of Global and Community, offers insight into practicing proper mask usage, such as identifying which masks are most effective in reducing the spread of COVID-19 and how long you should wear the masks before they are considered ineffective.

1. What type of face masks offers the best protection from COVID now that the omicron variant is dominant in the US?

A mask of three layers or more, a surgical mask, an N95, or a KN95 all offer good protection, provided that they fit well. That last part is what many people overlook. It is extremely important that the masks fit well. Gaps between the mask and the face may result in an opportunity for the virus to enter.

Two of the challenges that we have had throughout the pandemic is that many people did not wear their masks correctly or wore poor quality masks. The data have shown that the risk of infection decreases when wearing high-quality masks correctly and frequently. Masks are an important strategy in addition to vaccination, social distancing, testing, and isolating or quarantining as necessary.

2. What advice do you have for people who are shopping for face masks right now?

It is really important that individuals purchase masks that provide a good fit. We should also remember to follow the manufacturer's instructions and dispose of masks as instructed. Often masks are meant to be used for a certain number of hours and should be stored, following instructions, until either they have been used for the maximum hours or before that if they are soiled or worn out.

Many individuals report using disposable masks for longer than recommended by the manufacturer, and that leads to the masks being ineffective. Masks that end up being wet, dirty, torn, or that don't fit well should be disposed of properly. You can look for products that say they are ASTM level 1, 2, or 3 on the package. There is definitely a problem with counterfeit products, but if you look for this, you should be able to filter through and find good-quality masks. In general, ASTM level 1 masks are supposed to filter out at least 95% of particles of all sizes, and levels 2 and 3 are supposed to filter at least 98%. But remember that this is only the case if the mask fits you properly. Also, look for masks that have adjustable nose wires.

3. Are cloth face masks effective at preventing the spread of COVID?

A well-constructed cloth mask that fits well and is cleaned frequently can be effective. However, cloth masks are often problematic because their quality is highly variable and, in the case of children especially, they often do not provide an adequate fit. I've seen both adults and children wearing cloth masks that were a single layer, were clearly soiled, worn out, or that did not fit well. This is something that we really need to avoid especially as children are going back to school in large numbers at a time when the omicron variant is proving to be a significant threat. The Omicron variant is many times more transmissible than the Delta variant and we are concerned that there will be surges in cases as students go back to school. Vaccination is extremely important to help reduce infection and transmission and this goes hand in hand with wearing high-quality masks properly.

4. At the beginning of the pandemic, experts urged people to save N95 face masks for healthcare workers. Is this still the case?

At the beginning of the pandemic, our country faced a serious shortage of both N95s and medical grade surgical masks. At that time, the recommendation was that individuals should go ahead and make their own cloth masks or purchase some. There were detailed instructions available from the CDC and other organizations that specified how to make cloth masks at home, including the type of fabric to use and how to create multiple layers.

In practice, cloth masks are highly variable. They are often made with fabric that has a large weave which renders the mask ineffective at blocking out or filtering out virus. Currently, we have a better supply of disposable surgical masks, KN95s and N95s, and the need for a cloth alternative is no longer as strong. Individuals who really want to wear a cloth mask could wear one on top of a disposable mask in order to improve the fit of a disposable mask.

Topics

Covid-19

Omicron variant

Masks

Mason COVID-19 experts encourage vaccines, boosters and mask use as winter break nears

Colleen Rich — Mon, 06 Dec 2021 20:20:55 +0000

Mason COVID-19 experts encourage vaccines, boosters and mask use as winter break nears Colleen Rich Mon, 12/06/2021 - 15:20

Photo by Getty Images.

Amira Roess, professor of global health and epidemiology at ��AV’s College of Health and Human Services, Department of Global and Community Health, and Angela Chezem, MD, medical director, COVID Surveillance Program (Safety, Emergency, and Enterprise Risk Management), offer advice to the Mason community on omicron variant safety over the winter holiday season.

Q: What is the omicron COVID-19 variant, and how quickly should we expect it to spread in the United States?

A: The omicron variant is a variant of the COVID-19 virus and has several mutations on the spike protein compared to the delta variant. This is of significance because the spike protein is what current vaccines and therapeutics target. These changes or mutations may have implications for effectiveness of current vaccines and therapeutics. In addition, these changes may also have implications for transmission.

Every day we will learn about new cases of the omicron variant in the United States and throughout the world. Typically, by the time we identify the first case of a variant there are dozens if not hundreds more that have not been identified. This is an artifact of our surveillance system and our testing strategy.

Q: Does Mason’s surveillance testing detect the omicron variant?

A: Yes, Mason’s test would be positive for COVID if someone had the omicron variant. We are not running omicron-specific testing at this time, but our PCR test would yield a positive result for COVID.

Q: What should people do differently over the winter holiday, in light of the new variant?

A: There is a lot that we need to learn and we are gathering information quickly. Over the next several days we will have more data about the transmissibility of this variant and the possible implications of this on disease spread, and vaccine and therapeutic effectiveness.

In the meantime, individuals should prioritize getting the vaccine and the booster if they are eligible, and should continue to wear masks in crowded indoor settings. The elderly and those with underlying conditions should continue to be vigilant in order to avoid infection. Additionally, immunocompromised individuals who received Moderna or Pfizer should get a third dose 28 days after they have finished their initial series.

If you are going to spend the holidays with individuals who are older or have multiple underlying conditions, then it's extremely important that you, and they, get vaccinated and get the booster in order to minimize the chance of transmission at holiday gatherings.

Q: Will Mason offer surveillance testing over the winter break?

A: Yes, Mason’s surveillance testing site will be open for two Mondays during winter break, on Dec. 20 and Dec. 27 from 9 a.m. to noon in Fenwick Library on the Fairfax Campus.

Mason’s vaccine site will be closed for two weeks during winter break (Dec. 20 – 31). The Mason community is encouraged to visit vaccinefinder.gov to locate clinics open during the winter break if you need a vaccine or booster. The Mason vaccine site will resume regular hours on Monday, Jan. 3, 2022.

Q: The World Health Organization describes omicron as a “variant of concern.” What precautions can the Mason community take now for protection against this new variant?

A: The Mason community should continue to do what it has been doing. We have a very high vaccination rate and now we need to increase our booster rate. If you have symptoms make sure that you get tested and quarantine or isolate as appropriate. We need to continue to wear our masks especially in crowded indoor settings in order to protect ourselves and others. Remember that masks are effective in reducing the risk of transmission of COVID-19 and other respiratory microbes.

If you’re sick and tested negative for COVID, you should still wear a mask and avoid being around others.

Q: Should you cancel your holiday party and celebrations?

A: For now, we do not need to change our winter holiday plans. If you and all of those at your holiday gatherings have been vaccinated and have received a booster as appropriate, then you have truly done everything you can to significantly reduce the risk of infection.

The recommendations for travel are the same. Continue to wear masks when you are in indoor settings, especially in crowded settings, which includes on airplanes, buses, trains and in airports and shopping centers. If you have symptoms, avoid contact with others until you get tested.

Q: For those of us who are vaccinated, do our vaccines hold up against the omicron variant? What about boosters?

A: Preliminary data suggests that individuals who have been vaccinated have mild symptoms when infected with the omicron variant. This supports the recommendation that all eligible individuals really should get vaccinated and get the booster.

Q: All three U.S. vaccine manufacturers—Moderna, Pfizer, and Johnson and Johnson—are already conducting research to determine how their vaccines fare against omicron. When will the results be available?

A: These vaccine manufacturers have indicated that they may be able to produce a vaccine that is updated to respond to the omicron variant in about three months. This timeline will be updated as more information emerges.

Q: It seems like things are changing every day. Why and when can we expect to know more?

A: Each day we are identifying cases and investigating clusters. I suspect that in a week we'll have more information on the implications of the emergent variant on transmission dynamics, disease severity and vaccine effectiveness.

The most important thing to keep in mind is that our current vaccines do seem to protect against severe disease. While this may change in the future, it does not change the fact that the delta variant is still the dominant strain in the U.S., and the vaccines that we have are highly effective against severe disease, hospitalizations and deaths.

The information that is emerging suggests that the omicron variant is more transmissible than the delta variant. (If this turns out to be supported by further data analysis, then we can expect to see an increase in vaccine, booster and other mandates.)

Topics

Campus News

coronavirus; COVID-19; Editorial