For All Of Us: A Great Message!

Surgical masks are effective for around four hours, less if they get wet.

8 hours for N-95 is supposed to be the limit, again less if the get wet.

Neither are supposed to be reused.

That said, we know the virus dies on a surface without moisture in 72 hours. So if the mask is not damaged and is allowed to completely dry, it could be reused after 72 hours. They say they could be reused 5 times if they aren’t damaged.

We mask religiously in groups, but avoid groups as much as possible. We have eaten at an indoor restaurant twice since this started. Both times were in NYC, prior to omicron, and vaccination cards were required to enter and they were operating at 50% occupancy.