Updated December 9, 2020 7:04 p.m. EST
By Monica Laliberte, WRAL executive producer/5 on Your Side reporter
When was the last time you washed your mask?
"The mask is potentially contaminated with the virus," says Dr. Nicholas Pennings. "So, when you touch the outside and adjust your mask, you’re contaminating your fingers."
Dr. Pennings chairs family medicine at Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine.
With COVID-19 cases hitting critical stages, he reminds us to not touch the center of the mask, whether putting it on or adjusting the fit.
He says to touch only the bands or sides of any mask, because most of the filtering occurs in the center of the mask. That’s where where more virus could be.