PPB January 2021

Face Masks And Cove r i ngs Although all face masks offer some level of protection, some materials are more effective than others, so different masks serve different purposes. According to the CDC, the most effective face masks are N95 respirators, which are generally reserved for health-care workers and are in the highest demand. When N95 respirators are not available, surgical masks are next in line, which are also disposable but cannot block the transfer of some very small particles, like N95 respirators can. For public wear and everyday use, Business Insider suggests standard cloth masks. The masks most suitable for public, indoor and/or crowded settings are hybrid and two-layer cotton masks. The World Health Organization recommends that fabric masks be made of three layers: an inner layer that absorbs particles, a middle layer that filters particles and an external layer made from a nonabsorbent material. And for outdoor areas, Business Insider suggests a simple tea towel or dishcloth, or perhaps more conveniently, a 100-percent cotton t-shirt mask or a natural silk mask. What these cloth masks share in common is that they can be rewashed and used again and again, offering a greener, more cost- effective option. Mask-wearing can help contain spread, which can help save lives. A study conducted by the coronavirus forecasting team at the University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation—and published in late October 2020 in Nature Medicine , an academic journal—forecasts that if 95 percent of Americans wore masks, more than 100,000 lives would be saved between then and February 2021. Armed with these facts, why do some Americans choose not to wear masks?—a group that’s also referred to as “anti-maskers,” according to BBC. In late August 2020, Brookings Institute published its National Panel Study of COVID-19, a survey of 5,897 nationwide respondents, and found that 20 percent of respondents, or one in five Americans, said they didn’t wear face masks. When asked why, the majority (40 percent) of them said, “It is my right as an American to not wear a mask,” and nearly one in four (24 percent) said, “It is uncomfortable.” Less common reasons included “I don’t have access to a mask” (18 percent), “The coronavirus is a conspiracy” (11 percent) and “I don’t want to be mistaken for a criminal” (seven percent)—the latter of which was indicated by 67 percent of men of color who chose not to wear masks. To persuade hesitant mask-wearers, or to make the mask-wearing experience more enjoyable, brands can encourage safe practices with unique, custommasks that make a statement, encourage a smile, support a cause, express individuality, allow wearers to stay protected during an event or simply to blend in with their day-to-day look. To urge young people to practice mask-wearing, many local Americans and Mask-Wearing At A Glance According to an online poll of 2,021 U.S. adults conducted by The Harris Poll between October 9-12, 2020, on Americans' mask-wearing behaviors: 93 percent of Americans said they sometimes, often or always wear a mask or face covering when they leave their home and are unable to socially distance, including 72 percent who say they always do More women report always ( 77% ) and sometimes ( 16% ) wearing masks compared to men ( 67% always, 10% sometimes) More Democrats report wearing masks ( 82% ) than Republicans ( 66% ) and Independents ( 69% ) The percentage of mask-wearers increases with age: 61 percent of 18- to 34-year-olds said they always wear a mask compared to 83 percent of people age 65 and older Source: The Harris Poll 20 | JANUARY 2021 | INNOVATE