CDC: Swap your cloth mask for N95 masks to protect against Omicron

But now that many high-quality masks made from medical-grade materials are widely available to consumers, there's no reason for people to feel bad about using them to protect themselves and their families from getting sick."Respirators are made to protect you by filtering the air and fitting closely on the face to filter out particles, including the virus that causes COVID-19," the CDC's new guidance explains, providing a hierarchical framework for thinking about how much protection your mask provides.Here is the 4-tiered system the agency uses to explain how to think about how good your mask is: "Whatever product you choose, it should provide a good fit (i.e., fitting closely on the face without any gaps along the edges or around the nose) and be comfortable enough when worn properly (covering your nose and mouth) so that you can keep it on when you need to," the CDC also said in the new guidance.The agency warned against masks proclaiming to be NIOSH-approved, when they are not.