USA Made Procedural Masks

Masks are an additional step to help prevent people from getting and spreading COVID-19. They provide a barrier that keeps respiratory droplets from spreading. Wear a mask and take every day preventive actions in public settings.

Wear a Mask

• Everyone 2 years and older should wear masks in public.
• Masks should be worn in addition to staying at least 6 feet apart, especially around people who don’t live with you.
• If someone in your household is infected, people in the household should take precautions including wearing masks to avoid spread to others.
• Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer before putting on your mask.
• Wear your mask over your nose and mouth and secure it under your chin.
• Fit the mask snugly against the sides of your face, slipping the loops over your ears or tying the strings behind your head.
• If you have to continually adjust your mask, it doesn’t fit properly, and you might need to find a different mask type or brand.
• Make sure you can breathe easily.



You should wear a mask, even if you do not feel sick. This is because several studies have found that people with COVID-19 who never develop symptoms (asymptomatic) and those who are not yet showing symptoms (pre-symptomatic) can still spread the virus to other people. Wearing a mask helps protect those around you, in case you are infected but not showing symptoms.

It is especially important to wear a mask when you are indoors with people you do not live with and when you are unable to stay at least 6 feet apart since COVID-19 spreads mainly among people who are in close contact with one another.

Effective February 2, 2021, masks are required on planes, buses, trains, and other forms of public transportation traveling into, within, or out of the United States and in U.S. transportation hubs such as airports and stations.​

Improve How Your Mask Works 

Correct and consistent mask use is a critical step everyone can take to prevent getting and spreading COVID-19. Masks work best when everyone wears them, but not all masks provide the same protection. When choosing a mask, look at how well it fits, how well it filters the air, and how many layers it has.

• Make sure your mask fits snugly against your face. Gaps can let air with respiratory droplets leak in and out around the edges of the mask
• Pick a mask with layers to keep your respiratory droplets in and others’ out. A mask with layers will stop more respiratory droplets getting inside your mask or escaping from your mask if you are sick.

Ways to Tighten Your Mask

Knot and tuck ear loops of a 3-ply mask

• Knot the ear loops of a 3-ply face mask where they join the edge of the mask
• Fold and tuck the unneeded material under the edges

For video instructions, see: