Does wearing two masks provide more protection?
It depends, but doubling may help in some situations.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends wearing a cloth mask made of two or more layers and making sure it covers your nose and mouth. The agency says it should fit perfectly so that there are no gaps on the sides of the face.
Wearing a single mask should be enough for most situations, as long as it fits well and is not weakened, said Dr. David Hamer, an infectious disease expert at Boston University.
“Starting with a good mask for a start will be essential,” Hamer said.
However, some people may want extra protection if they are at risk of serious illness if they are infected or will be in situations where they are expected to be around others for long periods of time, such as on an airplane. .
One option in scenarios where you want extra protection is to wear a cloth mask as well as a regular surgical mask, said Dr. Monica Gandhi, an infectious disease expert at the University of California, San Francisco.
Gandhi said the combination – with any of the masks on top – could help achieve a similar effect to the N95 mask. She recommended additional protection for people who will be indoors in areas where transmission rates are high – which could reflect the circulation of more contagious variants.
Another option is recommended by Gandhi and a colleague for situations where you want “maximum” protection: a two-layer cloth mask that has a filter material between them.
With unique cloth masks for everyday use, Gandhi noted that it is important that they be made of a well-woven material and have at least two layers, which creates an “obstacle course” that makes it more difficult for carrier particles to penetrate. of virus.
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The AP answers the questions about coronavirus in this series. Send them to: [email protected].
Read the previous viral questions:
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Are wearing a mask a health risk?
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