How to Properly Wear a Face Mask: Infographic-Company news-China Disposable Gowns, Disposable Cap, lab coat, coverall-Hubei Hongrui Plastics Co., Ltd

Wearing a face mask in public helps prevent the spread of COVID-19 — but only if worn properly, covering both your nose and mouth. Read our mask-wearing tips to get the maximum protection for yourself and others.

Featured Experts:

Lisa Maragakis, M.D., M.P.H.

FOLLOW THESE GUIDELINES TO PROPERLY WEAR YOUR FACE MASK

Wash your hands before and after touching the mask.
Touch only the bands or ties when putting on and taking off your mask.
Make sure the mask fits to cover your nose, mouth and chin. If you adjust the mask to cover those areas, wash your hands before and after.
Make sure you can breathe and talk comfortably through your mask.
Wash reusable masks after each use. If the mask is disposable, discard it when visibly soiled or damaged.

TO PROTECT YOURSELF AND OTHERS, AVOID THESE COMMON MASK-WEARING MISTAKES

We do not recommend wearing bandanas, gaiters, masks with exhalation valves or clear shield-like face masks* as face coverings.
Don’t touch your or your child’s mask while it is being worn.
Don’t wear the mask under your chin with your nose and mouth exposed.
Don’t leave your nose or mouth uncovered.
Don’t remove the mask while around others in public.
Don’t share your mask with family members or friends.

Everyone is required to wear a face mask in a Johns Hopkins Medicine building. Patients can remove the face mask when they are alone in their hospital room. Staff performing care or other duties in a patient’s room can ask the patient to wear a face mask while they are in the room.

*This does not apply to recommended masks with a clear window used for lip reading.

Learn more about mask-wearing and coronavirus

Updated February 10, 2021.