Masks may be mandatory in many parts of the United States, but avoid covering your face for now.
Last week, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention unveiled new mask guidelines that differ depending on your COVID-19 community level. If you live in a low- or medium-risk area, a mask isn't always required, but if you live in a high-risk area, a mask is recommended in most situations.
Levels change based on a variety of factors such as the number of new COVID cases and hospital admissions, so check your county's status periodically to stay up to date.
CNN medical analyst Dr. Lena Wayne recommends people look at all the counties they frequent.
"Like the weather forecast, I recommend that people check these numbers regularly, as they can change," Wayne said.
Regardless of the situation in your area, some people still want a face covering, said Dr. John O'Horrow, an infectious disease specialist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.
He said some immunocompromised individuals and those without vaccinations may feel more comfortable wearing masks.
"There are people who haven't vaccinated at home. I have two kids under the age of 5," O'Horro said.
Christopher Sulmonte, project administrator for the Johns Hopkins Biocontainment Unit at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, said other people may want to wear a mask when they go indoors in places like grocery stores.
“A mask is essentially just another tool for you in your toolbox from an infection control standpoint,” he said.
Mask guidelines can vary over time, Sullmonte said, so it's a good idea to have a few masks on hand in case your situation changes.
Storing your masks
However you decide to store your masks, they should be in a dry area, Sullmonte said.
"I personally use a paper bag without sealing it, because the great thing is you want to re-circulate it with air," he said.
Another way to store your face coverings is to use a plastic container with holes in it, O'Horrow said.
He said that for cloth masks, be sure to wash them the same way you would with any of your other clothes.
If you're taking a hiatus from mask-wearing, be sure to check the expiration date of your disposable mask before wearing one, advised Sulmonte. He added that the dates can often be found on the outside of the boxes.
"That doesn't mean it's broken afterwards. It just means that the integrity of the mask isn't as strong as it was before," Sullmonte said.
The same goes for cloth masks. If you see some wear and tear on the fabric, it may be time to remove that mask, he said.
If you notice that some of your disposable masks have an early expiration date, Sullmonte advises people to prioritize wearing them with a closer date to avoid throwing them away.