Should you start wearing masks again in WA state this season? Here is what experts say

Many Washingtonians have thrown away the masks they once couldn’t leave home without as the pandemic and COVID-19 cases began to fade after more than two years of health scares.

But will Washington state residents need to find more masks to wear?

During this winter season, Washingtonians are being hit by a “tri-demic” of cases of COVID-19, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), according to previous reporting from McClatchy. It’s also being called a “tripledemic.”

Washington has been experiencing “very high” influenza-like illness activity, according to the Washington State weekly influenza update from the health department, which records weekly flu cases and hospitalizations.

In Washington state, there are 76 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents, with only 7% of hospital beds taken up by those with the virus, according to the Washington State Department of Health’s data from Dec. 6.

As sicknesses spread across Washington, many people are wondering if they should pull out their masks from 2021 and if wearing one will help keep them from getting sick.

Will wearing a mask keep me from getting sick?

Many people across the country have debated whether masks truly protect them from getting sick or spreading sickness to others.

Recent guidance from 25 local healthcare leaders and 12 Washington county health officers was published on Dec. 9 to encourage the use of masks in Washington.

“Communities across our state and around the U.S. are experiencing an unprecedented surge in viral respiratory illnesses, including respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza and COVID-19. As health officers and health care leaders working to improve the health of Washington residents, we recommend that everyone wear a high-quality, well-fitting mask when around others in indoor spaces to protect against both acquiring and spreading these infections to others,” the guidance states.

Many doctors and surgeons, including some at Yale Medicine, wear masks when serving patients that have diseases or sicknesses that can spread, in an effort to protect themselves from the sickness and to protect patients from any sickness they could be carrying, according to Yale Medicine.

The FDA states that not all face masks are the same, as some do not provide protection against fluid particles that spread viruses or provide respiratory protection to the mask wearer.

Surgical masks “help block large-particle droplets, splashes, sprays, or splatter that may contain germs (viruses and bacteria), keeping it from reaching your mouth and nose. Surgical masks may also help reduce exposure of your saliva and respiratory secretions to others,” the FDA website states.

N95 respirator masks protect against airborne diseases by having a very close fit around the face and layers of filtration that limits airborne particles inside to be inhaled by the wearer, according to the FDA. According to the National Library of Medicine, some airborne illnesses that are spread through the air include influenza, measles, COVID-19 and smallpox.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention also reported that wearing a mask lowered the odds of testing positive for COVID-19 in 2021, as a study found that wearing an N95 respirator mask was the most efficient way to lower the chance of a positive COVID-19 test.

Should I wear a mask this winter season?

As “masks are not usually recommended in non-healthcare settings,” the CDC is encouraging the use of masks this winter season to limit the spread of influenza viruses in the community:

“During periods of increased acute respiratory infections in the community, coughing patients and anyone suspected of having influenza should wear a mask at all times until they are isolated in a private room,” the CDC website states.

Wearing a cloth face mask as well as covering your sneezes and coughs, washing your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds and staying home when you are sick can limit the spread of the flu, according to the state’s health department.

As the flu and COVID-19 are airborne illnesses, wearing an N95 mask could also filter out airborne virus particles that could be inhaled and cause sickness, according to the FDA.

The CDC does not mention the use of masks to prevent or limit the transmission of RSV on its website.