According to CNBC's Cory Stieg, an August 2021 study researched by Ivy League institutions found that surgical/disposable masks are "95% effective at filtering out virus particles--compared to just 37% for cloth masks. That held true even after the (cloth) surgical masks were washed with soap and water 10 times." This month, Apple News reported that cloth masks have been found completely ineffective against Omicron.
While the CDC and FDA both recommend replacing contaminated masks with body or bloody fluids, the individuals can consider reusing masks in day-to-day use within the limits of non-contaminating situations.
Here are some easy guidelines reported by Yahoo! News for the safe reuse of disposable masks.
