Summer heat is ramping up and making it seem almost impossible to comfortably wear a face mask. Jogging, biking, and other forms of exercising may seem particularly arduous to perform with medical face mask on. Besides, many of us are asking ourselves how can we dine out while wearing face mask?
Arrive wearing a mask:
Governors of some states, like New York and Colorado, have issued executive orders that allow businesses to turn customers away if they are not wearing face masks. So if you want to make sure you get a table at a restaurant in the first place, a face mask is the equivalent to a secret password that will get you in the door.
Take your mask off when the food comes:
Experts agree that taking your mask off and putting it back on between bites would actually be counterproductive to its efficiency. Whatever the reasoning, you can enjoy your food as a rare respite from mask-wearing.
Remove your mask safely:
To remove your mask safely, experts recommend handling the straps instead of grabbing the fabric that covers your actual face. The front of your mask is probably the most contaminated part, either from your own respiratory droplets or from the environment, so touching the fabric poses another risk of cross-contamination.
Bring a bag for your mask:
When you remove your mask to eat at the restaurant, don’t just throw it into the depths of your purse, or even worse, place it on the table. If you’re going out to eat, masks should be safely stored in plastic or paper bags, so make sure to bring a clean one from home. This way, you’re preventing growth of any mold or fungus on your mask. Some restaurants will provide you with a bag, but it’s always safest to bring your own just in case they don’t.
Put the mask on your face after eating
Your friendly waitstaff might provide some guidelines to their preferred mask-wearing etiquette. But it’s a safe bet that once you’re done eating, your surgical face mask should go back on your face, especially before the waiter comes to clear your plates and bring you the check.
