Across the U.S. some Americans are going out without any type of face mask in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, while others are wearing medical-grade respirators. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says they, "currently do not recommend that the general public wear N95 respirators to protect themselves from respiratory diseases, including coronavirus (COVID-19)." Furthermore, the CDC website states that, "For the general American public, there is no added health benefit to wear a respiratory protective device (such as an N95 respirator), and the immediate health risk from COVID-19 is considered low." But studies of influenza pandemics show surgical masks do protect people a bit more than no masks at all.

CGTN went to Washington D.C. to ask people if they think masks are helpful in slowing the spread of COVID-19.