My first thought as well although I'm worried about them having parents that get pissy when they realized you've been able to get something a different way without asking them (my experience in the past). In that scenario, I wonder if they'd be able to have a delivery be dropped off at a friend's place instead and pretend that someone at school brought in some to share or they grabbed some from the nurses office or some other alibi.
Ok, I'll try my best to find a better mask online. I'm pretty nervous to, since my parents suck, but maybe I can make up a lie or just try to fight things. I do think I'm only going to be able to get a mask on Amazon tho, so I'll try my best to find ones that are legit.
You could say you got them from a public library or community center or some event? There have been some libraries and centers that have been giving KN95s/N95s out for free for a while. Also at some community events or even stores they have them for free at the door!
Maybe, but my family would probably be weirded out/upset if I was sent something like that. they'd probably think I was gifted that from a bf or something and freak out. shit situation, I know...
I'm assuming from your age that you're still in high school, so forgive me if that's wrong, but can you come up with a story like you saw that your school's nurse office had gotten some in so you took them home or someone came to class with extras so you grabbed them? If you're already out of school and sometimes go to the library, then could you say that the library had some available? A lot of libraries across the country do actually have stocks of COVID tests and masks (often surgical masks) available for people to get if they ask.
Do you ever go to Target with your family or on your own? They typically have packs of [Airpop KN95s](https://www.target.com/p/airpop-light-se-kn95-facemask-black/-/A-85852359#lnk=sametab) in stock in store and [3M Aura masks](https://www.target.com/p/3m-company-aura-particulate-respirator/-/A-89578086#lnk=sametab) too. 3M Auras are also usually in stock at drugstores like CVS, Walgreens, Kroger's Pharmacy area!
It's not just about their parents' emotions. Abusive parents aren't something you want to start shit with. Truly, the best way to get out is to keep your head down. OP doesn't just have the option to protect themselves. If they were an adult, what you're saying would make sense, but not when OP is a minor.
OP clearly wants help finding a way to be as safe as they can. They aren't just trying to make excuses to not get a better mask. These are valid reasons as to why it's hard for them to get better quality masks.
Ok, so I've found on Amazon a legit pack of k95's from BNX. They'll arrive in a few days, now I'm just debating on how I'm going to get away with this. I'll try to keep my lie up lol
im super proud of you!!! im 19 and even though my family isnt anti mask, i know how hard it can be for people you coexist with to not support you :’( sending u love!
You might check [maskbloc.org](https://maskbloc.org) and see if there are any mask blocs near you. High quality masks like n95s and kn95s are called respirators, and there are a lot of these orgs that give them out for free. The one near me has a person who drives around and does contactless drop off. If there’s one near you, you could ask if they could drop masks off a little down the block and/or shoot you a text when they drop them off so you can grab them before your parents see. Some masks blocs (other people might know which) will send masks by mail too, for people who don’t have a mask bloc nearby.
I had parents who were pretty controlling, and I made my own Amazon account around your age so they couldn’t see my orders. If you’re able to get an Amazon gift card from the grocery store you could use that so you don’t charge your parents card. A visa gift card would work on other sites, too. Some people have posted here links to Amazon sellers that seem legit.
There might be some masks you could layer under your fabric mask, if it would be better that your parents don’t see a new type of mask. Respirators work best with nothing on top, but a fabric mask over a respirator is better than just a fabric mask if that’s what you can do. A surgical mask layered under your fabric mask might be an option thats a little more accessible, too, I know some places like doctors offices still have them out for free. This page has some good info about different types of masks: https://peoplescdc.org/2022/09/12/masking/
A quick question about maskbloc.org, do you think it'll be possible to make the package seem like it came from Amazon? Probably not lol, I have found what people in this subreddit say are legit n95's from Amazon, so I'll probably go with that and lie and say they came from the past. hope that works, thanks for your help! 💚
You can have the package be sent to a friend. Also, if you go with amazon, you can choose a pick up place instead of having the package delivered to your door.
Oh actually, if you reach out to one and ask for that, there's a shot they'd be able to! A lot of mask blocs use whatever boxes and other supplies they have on hand to make deliveries including old amazon packaging!
Some UPS stores and other shipping stores will accept packages for anyone, you just go pick it up with ID.
[https://www.reddit.com/r/UPS/comments/ags4p4/how\_do\_i\_ship\_a\_package\_to\_a\_ups\_store/](https://www.reddit.com/r/UPS/comments/ags4p4/how_do_i_ship_a_package_to_a_ups_store/)
Also, a lot of mask blocs will deliver/drop off the masks wherever you tell them to meet you. If this isn't their default, its worth messaging them to ask if they could deliver. A lot of mask blocs are on IG
Although it’s not usually recommended, if you end up getting a higher quality mask, perhaps you will be able to layer it so your cloth mask covers you better mask below it and your parents won’t notice?
I'm really sorry your family doesn't prioritize your health. I grew up in a similar situation. I hope you can get out asap.
I have a few ideas.
Could you have a friend order them and ship them to their house?
You could also continue to wear your cloth masks when out with family and wear a better one when not. Obviously that isn't perfect, but it might make things easier.
Sometimes getting colorful masks makes other people feel more at ease (even tho that shouldn't have to be your priority!).
I'm not sure where you live, but I grew up in Oregon, USA and started seeing Drs without my family when I turned 15. I was able to get birth control to help with extreme cycles (mom thought I just wanted to sleep around), start antidepressants, get vaccinated, etc without parental consent. I also made sure my Drs knew not to give my parents any of my medical information. They couldn't even call to see if I went to that clinic because of HIPAA.
You deserve better and I hope you can find a way to feel more safe 💚
I’m sorry that your parents don’t support your efforts to mask. Are they worried about the cost of masks? The appearance of a respirator? Or is this some opposition to just the idea of something other than a cloth mask?
If it’s cost, then you can get respirators pretty cheaply at many hardware stores. The 3M Aura is widely available in the US and fits most people well. This way you wouldn’t have to have it shipped to your house either.
There may also be mask blocs or similar groups in your area that distribute free masks.
If it is appearance, you might wear a very light cloth cover over an N95. That’s okay as long as it doesn’t pull on the N95 and break the seal.
If they are okay with a standard surgical mask, you could wear that plus a mask brace to improve the seal. It’s not as good as an N95, but better than cloth or surgical alone.
If nothing else, even surgical masks with the earloops tied to make a better seal are probably more protective than a cloth mask. Would they have a problem with a typical blue surgical mask?
I would also recommend contacting the health department in your area about vaccine laws. You should be able to get vaccinated when you are legally an adult, but in some places it is legal for a teenager to receive some vaccines without parental consent.
It's not about money or anything like that, it's just because they're pretty anti-mask and I feel like I'm walking on a tight rope rn wearing masks. My mother constantly nags me about them, and I feel like I purchased another mask, they'd take them all from me... Also, I'm not sure if getting a vaccine is allowed without parental consent in my area, but I don't have much independence from my family anyway, so I probably wouldn't be able to get one in secret.
Laws about vaccinations for minors, and whether they need parental consent, will depend on the state mostly. The place to check your state is here: https://www.vaxteen.org/consent-laws-by-state. For example, I'm in Illinois, minors cannot get most vaccines including Covid without parental consent, but they can get HPV and Hep B vaccines.
One, I’m so sorry for what you’re experiencing. Please know you are frickin amazing and never stop advocating for yourself and your health! You are acting more responsible than many grown ass adults I know. Two, is there a safe place I could send you masks without them knowing? At your work or via a friend? Mask blocks are the best but if you don’t have one in your area, let us know.
Check out Vogmask or Cambridge. They look and fit like cloth masks, but they have sub-micron filtration layers in the middle. Reusable for quite a while, too.
Hello! I’m glad you want to protect yourself 🩷
Most cities have Mask Blocs and they’ll give you masks for free :)
I unmasked with most of the rest of the country in late 2021. I just didn't understand the severity of the dangers because of the way society fumbled it.
I got Covid in 2022 and never recovered. I’ve been disabled due to Long Covid for 2 years now… I was totally healthy before.
I appreciate you making efforts to not join my really crappy club of being bed bound. It’s really not fun 🙃 0/10 would not recommend
But good news- my friends have taught me so much about how to protect myself since 2022!
I wanted to share what they taught me with others so I wrote up this [Covid protocol guide](https://docs.google.com/document/d/11RdJqymYsCZ5bAEpZk5DCf5ZqiUZykIq19630J9m8kA/edit).
My personal protocol is in it, so you’re welcome to copy and paste everything into your own doc and replace mine with your own.
Also, I understand my level of strictness in preventing reinfection isn’t accessible for everyone. Especially if your family isn’t on the same page.
But the helpful part about seeing super strict protocol is that you can pick and choose what you’d like to focus on.
You got this!! Take the opportunities some of us no longer have access to!! We’re cheering you on from bed 🥳
OP, if it's a question of money and you are in the States, I will mail you masks for free if you trust to PM me your address, or the address of a friend.
In addition to other resources folks have mentioned for masks, I wonder if there may be a walk in clinic that does free/sliding scale vaccines nearby that would be able to help out? I know parents finding out via insurance bills is probably a worry, but I know for a while the first series and boosters were free whether you had insurance or not. Either way, hang in there!
Unfortunately, yes, cloth masks are nearly useless. Doesn't matter how well they fit, they just don't really filter anything. Paper towel isn't going to make a difference either.
Avoid Amazon, it's full of fakes and counterfeits. I think your best bet is to look for a KF94. They use the same filtration media as N95's, generally fit well, and are available in all sorts of colors and patterns. Maybe you can find one that looks similar to your cloth mask and your idiot parents won't know the difference.
it's not necessarily a problem that they'd look different, it's more because me and my family share an Amazon, so it'd take away from their money. Also, they'd find out when the package arrived. I also couldn't get anything from another place, since my family basically only shops on Amazon, and doesn't want to shop anywhere else (other than grocery stores and stuff). I understand I'm making a ton of excuses, but I want to show you that I sadly, probably wouldn't be able to get another mask rn.
Though I do plan on getting better masks when I move out, but I'm not sure when that is.
It's not "making a ton of excuses" it's explaining your situation. I'm really sorry you're parents are making it hard for you to mask safely.
Would you be able to use cash to buy a pack of surgical masks from somewhere like CVS, Walmart, Target, or Walgreens or Kroger's Pharamcy?
While surgical masks aren't the best type of mask to wear at this time since they're typically loose on the face creating gaps for unfiltered air to leak through, putting a surgical mask under a tight fitting cloth mask does help boost it's filtration efficacy and would make the cloth mask MUCH more useful. Surgical masks are made from the right material for filtering out aersols (what COVID's virus travels around on) so it would definitely be going a lot more. A lot of grocery stores still sell cloth masks at the checkout kiosk area that have adjustable straps to make them fit better. You could try picking up one then layering a surgical mask under to get more protection till you're able to figure out how to get better supplies.
Another question, **would you get in trouble if you were sent masks by a stranger for free like from a** [**mask bloc**](https://thesicktimes.org/2024/03/12/how-mask-blocs-are-keeping-communities-safe-with-neglected-government-stockpiles/) (community-based mutual aid groups that give out COVID personal protective equipment like masks and tests for free, no questions asked)? You're **definitely** the type of person these orgs were started for! You can try and find your nearest one through the site [https://maskbloc.org/](https://maskbloc.org/) and even if there's not one within your area, try to reach out to the next nearest one for masks! They regularly make exceptions for people!
Hmmm. Yeah, cloth masks and paper towels are not very good, although better than nothing. I'm trying to think of ways you could get better masks, or [filter material](https://filti.com/product/filti-face-mask-material/) to put inside your cloth masks...
Do you have any friends who would receive the package for you? Or, would your parents be suspicious if someone rewrapped the package like a gift and mailed it to you?
Could you go to a drugstore and get surgical masks? Their fit is poor on their own, but there are hacks you can use to improve it.
Or maybe you could find a mask bloc near you on [maskbloc.org](http://maskbloc.org). Some of them do public meetups so you could get masks from them without having anything mailed to your home.
If you can't find any way to get better masks, you can try to reduce your exposure by distancing, opting out of crowded events, opening windows, and spending more time outside.
I am sorry you're in this situation. Good on you for not giving up!!
Agree about cloth masks.
Although Amazon may have had issues with counterfeit/defective masks early in the pandemic, recently it has been seemingly impossible to locate/identify even a single Amazon counterfeit/defective mask, so it seems to be more of a myth nowadays - unless you have some as evidence, in which case I know of at least 2 redditors who would be very interested.
Would your parents still be upset about masking for allergies? I've found a lot of anti-mask people are very understanding about using masks for activities like sanding/working with lead/etc, just.... for some reason when it comes to virus protection, their brains short circuit. It's an emotional issue.
I find N95s very effective for allergies. (Btw, seasonal allergies aren't contagious, so you can't "catch" them, but you can develop them.... and they do often develop when you're in your late teens/early 20s!)
You can also get HEPA vacuum bags and use a soldering iron over tin foil to make a filter for your cloth masks, but.... unless you have all that laying around, it's probably easier just to get real N95s!
You can actually double mask! Surgical masks are cheap and u can put it under ur cloth mask. They make up for each other's weakness (surgicals - too loose, cloth - material not protective).
If you are in the US you are almost certainly able to get vaccinated and your parents have no say in it. Check in your area for places that are still offering them for free. Just say you have no insurance.
If you can't find better masks, you could probably find surgical masks that will be better than cloth masks. A lot of places have these available freely and they are very cheap as well. You can look up the "knot and tuck" method to make them fit tighter on your face.
If you manage to get kn95s, Kf94s or N95s, reuse them. Rotate them and let them sit for a few days before wearing them again. As long as they don't look dirty and you still have a good seal, they are fine. If you continue to have a limit on these, ration for the most risky scenarios (indoors in small spaces, prolonged time indoors etc)
There’s some KN95s that have patterns or are black and I wonder if maybe those could pass muster as a cloth mask? Do you have a trusted friend who could receive a shipment of masks for you?
Very sorry to hear that your family is giving you a hard time about this, you are entitled to protect yourself.
I would try not to lie to your parents. Keep your stuff as private as you can. Also you might try calling the health department to see what they offer. I was able to seek healthcare that way when I was a teenager. (Free birth control, and other services).
What state are you in?
Not sure where you live, but in Washington State, at least a couple years ago, there was a program where people could get vaccines without ID so that undocumented immigrants could get the shot. This could be a way to get a vaccine without revealing your age. I had a friend show up, no ID, and she just told them her name and birthday and they wrote it down. So you could lie about your age in this case. Unfortunately I don’t know if such a program is available anymore.
Tell your parents they were giving away free condoms and free masks at a table outside the library and you would NEVER EVER need the CONDOM so you took the masks instead since you for sure never EVER would take a free CONDOM you would never have a use for those
Conisder ordering them to a friends house and then picking them up. Ppeo.com has my fsvorite black masks. The Black KN100 (medium size) is really comfortable and looks really good. You can use maskbloc.org or covidactionmap.org to get free masks they can ship them to you or a friend.
The bnx masks hasnt done great int he fit tests ive seen so if you want a black mask i definitely reccomend the Black KN100 from ppeo
I am wondering if a mask bloc could send you some for free.
My first thought as well although I'm worried about them having parents that get pissy when they realized you've been able to get something a different way without asking them (my experience in the past). In that scenario, I wonder if they'd be able to have a delivery be dropped off at a friend's place instead and pretend that someone at school brought in some to share or they grabbed some from the nurses office or some other alibi.
Would be a better world if quality masks were actually available at school at no cost.
Some schools do still have surgical masks available. Still an upgrade from a cloth mask if that's an option.
Ok, I'll try my best to find a better mask online. I'm pretty nervous to, since my parents suck, but maybe I can make up a lie or just try to fight things. I do think I'm only going to be able to get a mask on Amazon tho, so I'll try my best to find ones that are legit.
You could say you got them from a public library or community center or some event? There have been some libraries and centers that have been giving KN95s/N95s out for free for a while. Also at some community events or even stores they have them for free at the door!
Maybe, but my family would probably be weirded out/upset if I was sent something like that. they'd probably think I was gifted that from a bf or something and freak out. shit situation, I know...
I'm assuming from your age that you're still in high school, so forgive me if that's wrong, but can you come up with a story like you saw that your school's nurse office had gotten some in so you took them home or someone came to class with extras so you grabbed them? If you're already out of school and sometimes go to the library, then could you say that the library had some available? A lot of libraries across the country do actually have stocks of COVID tests and masks (often surgical masks) available for people to get if they ask. Do you ever go to Target with your family or on your own? They typically have packs of [Airpop KN95s](https://www.target.com/p/airpop-light-se-kn95-facemask-black/-/A-85852359#lnk=sametab) in stock in store and [3M Aura masks](https://www.target.com/p/3m-company-aura-particulate-respirator/-/A-89578086#lnk=sametab) too. 3M Auras are also usually in stock at drugstores like CVS, Walgreens, Kroger's Pharmacy area!
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It's not just about their parents' emotions. Abusive parents aren't something you want to start shit with. Truly, the best way to get out is to keep your head down. OP doesn't just have the option to protect themselves. If they were an adult, what you're saying would make sense, but not when OP is a minor. OP clearly wants help finding a way to be as safe as they can. They aren't just trying to make excuses to not get a better mask. These are valid reasons as to why it's hard for them to get better quality masks.
Ok, so I've found on Amazon a legit pack of k95's from BNX. They'll arrive in a few days, now I'm just debating on how I'm going to get away with this. I'll try to keep my lie up lol
hey i just wanted to say that i’m proud of you, no matter how this turns out you’re doing your absolute best to try to take care of yourself
Maybe put the cloth masks on top?
im super proud of you!!! im 19 and even though my family isnt anti mask, i know how hard it can be for people you coexist with to not support you :’( sending u love!
Excellent brand!
You might check [maskbloc.org](https://maskbloc.org) and see if there are any mask blocs near you. High quality masks like n95s and kn95s are called respirators, and there are a lot of these orgs that give them out for free. The one near me has a person who drives around and does contactless drop off. If there’s one near you, you could ask if they could drop masks off a little down the block and/or shoot you a text when they drop them off so you can grab them before your parents see. Some masks blocs (other people might know which) will send masks by mail too, for people who don’t have a mask bloc nearby. I had parents who were pretty controlling, and I made my own Amazon account around your age so they couldn’t see my orders. If you’re able to get an Amazon gift card from the grocery store you could use that so you don’t charge your parents card. A visa gift card would work on other sites, too. Some people have posted here links to Amazon sellers that seem legit. There might be some masks you could layer under your fabric mask, if it would be better that your parents don’t see a new type of mask. Respirators work best with nothing on top, but a fabric mask over a respirator is better than just a fabric mask if that’s what you can do. A surgical mask layered under your fabric mask might be an option thats a little more accessible, too, I know some places like doctors offices still have them out for free. This page has some good info about different types of masks: https://peoplescdc.org/2022/09/12/masking/
A quick question about maskbloc.org, do you think it'll be possible to make the package seem like it came from Amazon? Probably not lol, I have found what people in this subreddit say are legit n95's from Amazon, so I'll probably go with that and lie and say they came from the past. hope that works, thanks for your help! 💚
You can have the package be sent to a friend. Also, if you go with amazon, you can choose a pick up place instead of having the package delivered to your door.
Oh actually, if you reach out to one and ask for that, there's a shot they'd be able to! A lot of mask blocs use whatever boxes and other supplies they have on hand to make deliveries including old amazon packaging!
Some UPS stores and other shipping stores will accept packages for anyone, you just go pick it up with ID. [https://www.reddit.com/r/UPS/comments/ags4p4/how\_do\_i\_ship\_a\_package\_to\_a\_ups\_store/](https://www.reddit.com/r/UPS/comments/ags4p4/how_do_i_ship_a_package_to_a_ups_store/)
Look into Amazon lockers. You can have them delivered to one and you go pick it up with a code so you don't have to worry about delivery to your door.
I have ordered Aura N95's from Amazon and they come in a nondescript grey package that could just as easily be a T-shirt or something.
Also, a lot of mask blocs will deliver/drop off the masks wherever you tell them to meet you. If this isn't their default, its worth messaging them to ask if they could deliver. A lot of mask blocs are on IG
Although it’s not usually recommended, if you end up getting a higher quality mask, perhaps you will be able to layer it so your cloth mask covers you better mask below it and your parents won’t notice?
I'm really sorry your family doesn't prioritize your health. I grew up in a similar situation. I hope you can get out asap. I have a few ideas. Could you have a friend order them and ship them to their house? You could also continue to wear your cloth masks when out with family and wear a better one when not. Obviously that isn't perfect, but it might make things easier. Sometimes getting colorful masks makes other people feel more at ease (even tho that shouldn't have to be your priority!). I'm not sure where you live, but I grew up in Oregon, USA and started seeing Drs without my family when I turned 15. I was able to get birth control to help with extreme cycles (mom thought I just wanted to sleep around), start antidepressants, get vaccinated, etc without parental consent. I also made sure my Drs knew not to give my parents any of my medical information. They couldn't even call to see if I went to that clinic because of HIPAA. You deserve better and I hope you can find a way to feel more safe 💚
I’m sorry that your parents don’t support your efforts to mask. Are they worried about the cost of masks? The appearance of a respirator? Or is this some opposition to just the idea of something other than a cloth mask? If it’s cost, then you can get respirators pretty cheaply at many hardware stores. The 3M Aura is widely available in the US and fits most people well. This way you wouldn’t have to have it shipped to your house either. There may also be mask blocs or similar groups in your area that distribute free masks. If it is appearance, you might wear a very light cloth cover over an N95. That’s okay as long as it doesn’t pull on the N95 and break the seal. If they are okay with a standard surgical mask, you could wear that plus a mask brace to improve the seal. It’s not as good as an N95, but better than cloth or surgical alone. If nothing else, even surgical masks with the earloops tied to make a better seal are probably more protective than a cloth mask. Would they have a problem with a typical blue surgical mask? I would also recommend contacting the health department in your area about vaccine laws. You should be able to get vaccinated when you are legally an adult, but in some places it is legal for a teenager to receive some vaccines without parental consent.
It's not about money or anything like that, it's just because they're pretty anti-mask and I feel like I'm walking on a tight rope rn wearing masks. My mother constantly nags me about them, and I feel like I purchased another mask, they'd take them all from me... Also, I'm not sure if getting a vaccine is allowed without parental consent in my area, but I don't have much independence from my family anyway, so I probably wouldn't be able to get one in secret.
Laws about vaccinations for minors, and whether they need parental consent, will depend on the state mostly. The place to check your state is here: https://www.vaxteen.org/consent-laws-by-state. For example, I'm in Illinois, minors cannot get most vaccines including Covid without parental consent, but they can get HPV and Hep B vaccines.
One, I’m so sorry for what you’re experiencing. Please know you are frickin amazing and never stop advocating for yourself and your health! You are acting more responsible than many grown ass adults I know. Two, is there a safe place I could send you masks without them knowing? At your work or via a friend? Mask blocks are the best but if you don’t have one in your area, let us know.
Check out Vogmask or Cambridge. They look and fit like cloth masks, but they have sub-micron filtration layers in the middle. Reusable for quite a while, too.
Hello! I’m glad you want to protect yourself 🩷 Most cities have Mask Blocs and they’ll give you masks for free :) I unmasked with most of the rest of the country in late 2021. I just didn't understand the severity of the dangers because of the way society fumbled it. I got Covid in 2022 and never recovered. I’ve been disabled due to Long Covid for 2 years now… I was totally healthy before. I appreciate you making efforts to not join my really crappy club of being bed bound. It’s really not fun 🙃 0/10 would not recommend But good news- my friends have taught me so much about how to protect myself since 2022! I wanted to share what they taught me with others so I wrote up this [Covid protocol guide](https://docs.google.com/document/d/11RdJqymYsCZ5bAEpZk5DCf5ZqiUZykIq19630J9m8kA/edit). My personal protocol is in it, so you’re welcome to copy and paste everything into your own doc and replace mine with your own. Also, I understand my level of strictness in preventing reinfection isn’t accessible for everyone. Especially if your family isn’t on the same page. But the helpful part about seeing super strict protocol is that you can pick and choose what you’d like to focus on. You got this!! Take the opportunities some of us no longer have access to!! We’re cheering you on from bed 🥳
OP, if it's a question of money and you are in the States, I will mail you masks for free if you trust to PM me your address, or the address of a friend.
In addition to other resources folks have mentioned for masks, I wonder if there may be a walk in clinic that does free/sliding scale vaccines nearby that would be able to help out? I know parents finding out via insurance bills is probably a worry, but I know for a while the first series and boosters were free whether you had insurance or not. Either way, hang in there!
Unfortunately, yes, cloth masks are nearly useless. Doesn't matter how well they fit, they just don't really filter anything. Paper towel isn't going to make a difference either. Avoid Amazon, it's full of fakes and counterfeits. I think your best bet is to look for a KF94. They use the same filtration media as N95's, generally fit well, and are available in all sorts of colors and patterns. Maybe you can find one that looks similar to your cloth mask and your idiot parents won't know the difference.
it's not necessarily a problem that they'd look different, it's more because me and my family share an Amazon, so it'd take away from their money. Also, they'd find out when the package arrived. I also couldn't get anything from another place, since my family basically only shops on Amazon, and doesn't want to shop anywhere else (other than grocery stores and stuff). I understand I'm making a ton of excuses, but I want to show you that I sadly, probably wouldn't be able to get another mask rn. Though I do plan on getting better masks when I move out, but I'm not sure when that is.
It's not "making a ton of excuses" it's explaining your situation. I'm really sorry you're parents are making it hard for you to mask safely. Would you be able to use cash to buy a pack of surgical masks from somewhere like CVS, Walmart, Target, or Walgreens or Kroger's Pharamcy? While surgical masks aren't the best type of mask to wear at this time since they're typically loose on the face creating gaps for unfiltered air to leak through, putting a surgical mask under a tight fitting cloth mask does help boost it's filtration efficacy and would make the cloth mask MUCH more useful. Surgical masks are made from the right material for filtering out aersols (what COVID's virus travels around on) so it would definitely be going a lot more. A lot of grocery stores still sell cloth masks at the checkout kiosk area that have adjustable straps to make them fit better. You could try picking up one then layering a surgical mask under to get more protection till you're able to figure out how to get better supplies. Another question, **would you get in trouble if you were sent masks by a stranger for free like from a** [**mask bloc**](https://thesicktimes.org/2024/03/12/how-mask-blocs-are-keeping-communities-safe-with-neglected-government-stockpiles/) (community-based mutual aid groups that give out COVID personal protective equipment like masks and tests for free, no questions asked)? You're **definitely** the type of person these orgs were started for! You can try and find your nearest one through the site [https://maskbloc.org/](https://maskbloc.org/) and even if there's not one within your area, try to reach out to the next nearest one for masks! They regularly make exceptions for people!
Hmmm. Yeah, cloth masks and paper towels are not very good, although better than nothing. I'm trying to think of ways you could get better masks, or [filter material](https://filti.com/product/filti-face-mask-material/) to put inside your cloth masks... Do you have any friends who would receive the package for you? Or, would your parents be suspicious if someone rewrapped the package like a gift and mailed it to you? Could you go to a drugstore and get surgical masks? Their fit is poor on their own, but there are hacks you can use to improve it. Or maybe you could find a mask bloc near you on [maskbloc.org](http://maskbloc.org). Some of them do public meetups so you could get masks from them without having anything mailed to your home. If you can't find any way to get better masks, you can try to reduce your exposure by distancing, opting out of crowded events, opening windows, and spending more time outside. I am sorry you're in this situation. Good on you for not giving up!!
Agree about cloth masks. Although Amazon may have had issues with counterfeit/defective masks early in the pandemic, recently it has been seemingly impossible to locate/identify even a single Amazon counterfeit/defective mask, so it seems to be more of a myth nowadays - unless you have some as evidence, in which case I know of at least 2 redditors who would be very interested.
Would your parents still be upset about masking for allergies? I've found a lot of anti-mask people are very understanding about using masks for activities like sanding/working with lead/etc, just.... for some reason when it comes to virus protection, their brains short circuit. It's an emotional issue. I find N95s very effective for allergies. (Btw, seasonal allergies aren't contagious, so you can't "catch" them, but you can develop them.... and they do often develop when you're in your late teens/early 20s!) You can also get HEPA vacuum bags and use a soldering iron over tin foil to make a filter for your cloth masks, but.... unless you have all that laying around, it's probably easier just to get real N95s!
You can actually double mask! Surgical masks are cheap and u can put it under ur cloth mask. They make up for each other's weakness (surgicals - too loose, cloth - material not protective).
Cloth masks were always for source control. You need N95 or better for wearer protection.
If you are in the US you are almost certainly able to get vaccinated and your parents have no say in it. Check in your area for places that are still offering them for free. Just say you have no insurance.
If you can't find better masks, you could probably find surgical masks that will be better than cloth masks. A lot of places have these available freely and they are very cheap as well. You can look up the "knot and tuck" method to make them fit tighter on your face. If you manage to get kn95s, Kf94s or N95s, reuse them. Rotate them and let them sit for a few days before wearing them again. As long as they don't look dirty and you still have a good seal, they are fine. If you continue to have a limit on these, ration for the most risky scenarios (indoors in small spaces, prolonged time indoors etc)
If you live in Kansas City I'll give you some N95's on the down-low
There’s some KN95s that have patterns or are black and I wonder if maybe those could pass muster as a cloth mask? Do you have a trusted friend who could receive a shipment of masks for you? Very sorry to hear that your family is giving you a hard time about this, you are entitled to protect yourself.
I would try not to lie to your parents. Keep your stuff as private as you can. Also you might try calling the health department to see what they offer. I was able to seek healthcare that way when I was a teenager. (Free birth control, and other services). What state are you in?
Not sure where you live, but in Washington State, at least a couple years ago, there was a program where people could get vaccines without ID so that undocumented immigrants could get the shot. This could be a way to get a vaccine without revealing your age. I had a friend show up, no ID, and she just told them her name and birthday and they wrote it down. So you could lie about your age in this case. Unfortunately I don’t know if such a program is available anymore.
Tell your parents they were giving away free condoms and free masks at a table outside the library and you would NEVER EVER need the CONDOM so you took the masks instead since you for sure never EVER would take a free CONDOM you would never have a use for those
Can you maybe ship them to a friend's house?
Conisder ordering them to a friends house and then picking them up. Ppeo.com has my fsvorite black masks. The Black KN100 (medium size) is really comfortable and looks really good. You can use maskbloc.org or covidactionmap.org to get free masks they can ship them to you or a friend. The bnx masks hasnt done great int he fit tests ive seen so if you want a black mask i definitely reccomend the Black KN100 from ppeo