CDC director says face masks may offer more protection against COVID than a vaccine. Here's what other experts say. By Caitlin O'Kane ...

Face masks aren't as effective if you don't wear them properly. Here's what you need to know to protect yourself and your community from COVID-19.

She says the gold standard for protection is an N95 face mask. "The KN95 or N95, that 95 really stands for keeping out 95% of particles, so Omicron falls into that category," she said.

Face masks — the same kind used in the COVID-19 pandemic — can help protect people from dangerously polluted air, say health experts. But choose a good quality mask, they caution.

Face mask performance and protection Face masks are evaluated based on two main properties: filtration efficacy and breathability. Each property is tested on two levels.

Face masks can provide additional protection from wind, snow and sleet this winter. Check out our picks for the warmest face masks to shop this winter.

This week, the city of Chicago is distributing 1.5 million KN95 face masks across the city as COVID-19 cases continue to rise from the omicron variant, according to a report by WMAQ.

An N95 means the mask has been rated to filter at least 95% of airborne particles it encounters. The masks have also been manufactured to form a seal on the wearers face.

A woman wearing a face mask and shield to protect from the spread of the new coronavirus in Duque de Caxias, Brazil, Wednesday, June 10, 2020. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo) ...

Entertainment 6 face masks that are antimicrobial for added protection Published: Sep. 12, 2020, 9:00 a.m. By Kathy Passero, eCommerce reporter ...

Business Where to get your N95, KN95 face masks for better coronavirus protection Updated: Feb. 17, 2021, 5:40 p.m. | Published: Jan. 25, 2021, 11:38 a.m.