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The Delta variant has become the dominant strain of COVID, now accounting for over 93% of all cases in the United States, primarily among the unvaccinated population.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention changed their mask guidelines last month. The agency now recommends people living in areas with “high” or “substantial” transmission to wear masks indoors again. According to CDC data, nearly two-thirds of counties in the United States have high or substantial transmission, including all 21 in New Jersey.
But which face mask offers the best protection against the Delta variant?
While cloth masks were useful in the past against the original variants of the coronavirus, health experts now have differing opinions on whether this is still the case, according to a report from the Washington Post.
Stronger alternatives such as N95 masks are a much better option due to the high transmission rate of the Delta variant, especially for those who are not vaccinated.
Standard, well-fitting surgical masks have also been shown to be effective against the Delta variant, according to the report.
An N95 mask “is a respiratory protective device designed to achieve a very tight facial fit and highly effective filtration of airborne particles,” according to the FDA. Fit testing is also recommended to ensure a secure fit.
N95 masks were once hard to find as they were in high demand at the start of the pandemic, leading customers to purchase KN95 masks. But now there are many N95 masks available now.
KN95 masks are a cheaper alternative to N95 masks, as long as they “meet requirements similar to those set by the CDC’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) for respirators,” according to the CDC.
Several reputable merchants specialize in selling NIOSH certified N95 and KN95 masks with reasonably fast shipping, including companies like N95 Medical Supplies, N95MaskCo, and Well Before.
Below is an overview of where you can purchase CDC-certified N95 and KN95 face masks if you decide to upgrade, along with disposable mask options.
Where to buy wholesale N95 face masks online:
Where to buy simple N95 face masks online:
Where to buy KN95 face masks in bulk online
- KN95 face masks with protective respirator, pack of 50 for $ 74.99
- KN95 face masks with protective respirator, pack of 10 on sale for $ 17.99
Disposable face masks you can buy wholesale online:
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