Here’s what epidemiologists want you to know about the best N95 masks to buy

Still not sure what an N95 is? Here’s the deal: When worn properly, N95 respirators provide the most protection against COVID-19, says epidemiologist Karen Edwards, MS, PhD, [professor], of the University of California, Irvine Program in Public Health. “These masks meet specific requirements in terms of the size of the particles they are designed to filter out and are also designed to provide a very close facial fit so that they form a seal around your nose and mouth,” she explains.