Covid face masks: How to wear, re-use and discard yours safely 

Face masks are now a fact of life. But even disposable masks require a few simple care steps to stay effective 

Some 6.8bn disposable masks are used across the globe each day. Picture: Pexels

Every time I leave the house, the refrain – phone, wallet, keys, mask – rattles around my brain while I search my bag for the essentials. Evidence that, despite how strange it felt to wear a mask way back in 2019, face masks have become firmly entrenched in our daily lives.

Masks are proven to reduce the risk of Covid-19 transmission and help keep us safe at supermarkets and in between our tables and the bathroom at restaurants, but they do need to be handled with specific care to remain effective.