Cloth masks offer best protection when worn outdoors and away from large crowds, NC State study shows

Researcher Bryan Ormond said his team found that cloth face masks "reduce emission of the virus from the wearer in most settings and are highly recommended."

Cloth masks are best able to prevent the spread of coronavirus in outdoor environments and away from large crowds. Those masks are not as protective when people gather indoors in large groups. Ormond said someone may need more protection indoors than some masks provide.

"If you are going to be in an indoor setting with low ventilation, with a lot of people around for an extended period of time, you will want something that will give you more protection," Ormond said.

If you do plan on gathering indoors and want to protect yourself, researchers said that the mask that offers the best protection is the N-95 mask.

"The more people that wear that mask, hopefully faster we can get back to some level of normal," Ormond said.

Researchers say that masks are only effective if they cover your entire face and don't leave gaping holes.

Wednesday was the 13th straight day North Carolina set a new high in virus hospitalizations, and capacity – of hospital beds 78% full and ICU beds 83% – increased as well.