CDC Warns Against Wearing Masks With Exhalation Vents Regarding COVID-19

One of the best ways to slow the spread of COVID-19 is to wear a mask. However, the CDC is now warning against wearing masks with exhalation valves or vents, like construction workers would wear.

The reason, the CDC claims, is because masks with exhalation valves and vents do not stop the person who is wearing the mask from spreading COVID-19 to others.

A mask is meant to keep respiratory droplets from reaching others, but masks with one-way valves or vents let exhaled air go out through the holes in the material. Those respiratory droplets can then reach other people and potentially expose them to COVID-19.

Instead, the CDC recommends wearing a simple cloth mask.

Even one of the world's largest air carriers, American Airlines, is banning masks with valves. American announced Wednesday that passengers cannot wear masks that feature one-way valves and vents.

This new information comes as North Carolina's Duke University completed a study that found neck gaiters might be ineffective at stopping the spread of the coronavirus. The study went as far to say that wearing a neck gaiter is worse than not wearing a mask.

Read Related: Some Neck Gaiters May Be Worse Than Not Wearing A Mask At All, Study Shows