Should you ditch that cloth mask? Santa Barbara County health experts recommend upgrading as COVID-19 cases surge

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. - Out of all the masks available, the state's health department now recommends avoiding those made from cloth.

"Part of the issue with masks particularly around cloth masks … is depending on the weave the fiber … how many layers … it’s really difficult to know how much filtration that you’re getting with one of these masks," said Dr. Scott Robertson at Marian Regional Medical Center.

Robertson explains there is standardization and consistency with medical grade masks.

"One can conclude that if you’re wearing a medical grade mask then you are protecting others from any sort of droplets that you may be exhaling," said Robertson.

After choosing the right mask, the head pharmacist at JDX says he’s concerned about how people are wearing their masks.

"I’ve seen people wear questionable masks but what concerns me the most is when people only cover their nose or only cover their mouth. if you do that you’re still gonna breathe something from your nose and mouth and or breath something from your mouth ... and that defeats the purpose of wearing a mask," said Dr. Sagar Asodia of JDX Pharmacy.

"It’s very important to me because you know it protects people when they cough … a lot of people don’t want to wear a mask," said Elizabeth Azebedo of Santa Maria.

Azebedo is a caregiver and wears a surgical mask whenever she’s around other people.

"Because being a caregiver you know you have to protect your clients as much as yourself," said Azebedo.

"Wearing any mask is better than wearing no mask … if you’re going to go to areas where there may be a lot more people … it’s probably best to pick up a small grade of medical grade masks just to make sure," said Robertson.

The California Department of Public Health recommends avoiding a cloth mask, and using a surgical mask or higher-level respirators instead.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a month-long mandatory indoor mask order which began Dec. 15 and runs through Jan. 15.

The state currently recommends wearing a surgical mask, or wearing a N95, KN95 or KF94 mask.