Masks are important for protecting against any variant of COVID-19, including Omicron, or other viral infections. However, some variants that are more transmissible (that is, more likely to be passed from one person to another, or contagious) may have a higher chance of getting through masks. As a result, masks can have different levels of effectiveness for different variants.

Omicron is a variant that is very transmissible. It infects and multiplies about 70 times faster than Delta. As a result, masks are less effective against Omicron. The variant's high level of transmissibility is why many health experts have recommended that people try to wear a mask that can protect as much as possible. N95 masks are the best, followed by KN95 masks and surgical masks. 

Cloth masks are not recommended in places where Omicron is circulating because they do not have the ‘electrostatic charge’ that surgical, KN95, and N95 masks do. That charge attracts and removes particles that might slip through small cracks of a cloth mask.

The U.S. CDC is now encouraging everyone to upgrade to a KN95 or an N95 because they are better at filtering air

Masking is important when indoors around anyone not in your household, as well as outdoors when in a crowded area. Any mask, even a cloth mask, is always better than no mask and can offer some protection.

As Omicron continues to surge around the world, there has been a great deal of discussion and media coverage of the effectiveness of masks against the very infectious variant. This can cause confusion when, for over a year now, many of us have worn cloth masks and been told how important masking is no matter the type. 

Masks of any kind still offer protection against any variant of COVID-19. However, variants that are more infectious make it more likely that they will get through masks, because it’s easier to get infected by them.