Masking in virus season 2025-26. Here are 5 things to know.

As cold and flu season fires up and COVID-19 continues to circulate, some of us will be wondering: Should I wear a mask?

After all, kids start to bring home respiratory virus symptoms from school and daycare — fevers, headaches, body aches, cough, sore throat, stuffy or runny nose, nausea and diarrhea. All the fun stuff.

“Every year, we implement visitor restrictions for kids under 13 at the hospitals and offer additional masking recommendations — that’s when you know you’re getting into peak respiratory illness season,” said Aliza Hekman, physician assistant and infectious disease specialist with Novant Health Infectious Disease Specialists - Winston-Salem.

Medical centers aside, most people may not be masking this winter. But those placed at greater risk by respiratory viruses might be wondering if they should. Others will want to be mindful about not infecting the more vulnerable people in their lives.

Here, Hekman shares details about when it’s best to think about masking, considerations about controlling the spread of these illnesses, and the latest on COVID-19 testing and vaccine recommendations.

Consider masking when you’re visiting high-risk people, regardless of symptoms.

Anyone with a condition that compromises their immune system is considered high-risk, especially people who have had an organ transplant or are undergoing chemotherapy.

Additionally, women who are pregnant or anyone over 65 may have lowered immune systems. Lastly, it’s helpful to mask up if you’re visiting someone in a care facility such as a nursing home, where illnesses can spread more rapidly due to people living close to each other and sharing caregivers and communal spaces.

Stay aware of hospital and physician clinic recommendations for masking before you go to an appointment or make a hospital visit.

• Physician clinic: If you are visiting a Novant Health clinic and have respiratory symptoms, you will be asked to wear a mask to help protect team members and fellow patients in the waiting room.
• Hospital: Whether you have respiratory symptoms or not, masking may be required in treatment areas for high-risk patients and patients in isolation. If you have respiratory virus symptoms, you’re encouraged to avoid visiting the hospital.
• Additionally, you can request that your doctor or care team wear a mask to help protect you.

Is it helpful to mask in your own house by the time you’re showing symptoms? Or is it too late?

It depends. If you live with someone who is immunocompromised, you might try to be more careful and keep your distance from them and mask if you notice you have symptoms. Similarly, if you have a baby under age 6 months, staying away from them might not be possible, but masking around them could help.

Realistically, you’ve likely already spread germs by the time you’re showing symptoms, and if your family members are not high risk, you might decide as a family that you don’t want to mask around each other.

How long is it helpful to mask up after a potential exposure to COVID-19, or when you have mild symptoms?

Mask while you have a fever. Once you’re fever-free for 24 hours and no longer taking fever-reducing medication, the recommendation is to take extra precautions for five more days, so you could wear a mask for that amount of time. The protocol is the same for other respiratory viruses.

Is it helpful to test for COVID-19 if you have symptoms?

It would be helpful to take a test if you may be a candidate for COVID-19 medication, such as Paxlovid, an oral antiviral. For example, if you’re immunocompromised, you can let your primary care physician know you have a positive COVID-19 test, so they are able to give you a prescription.

Otherwise, if you choose not to test, follow your symptoms. Stay home if you have a fever until you’re at least 24 hours fever-free and your symptoms are improving. Consider wearing a mask for five more days for extra protection.