The Updated COVID-19 Mask Recommendations Explained
In a recent statement, the director of the
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), Dr.
Anthony Fauci, stated that he favors double-masking for the new and more
infectious Covid-19 variants like the UK strain and others. These new
recommendations are in line with the regulations being currently imposed
across Europe, where medical-grade face masks like the N95 and the
FFP2/3 rather than cloth masks are becoming mandatory in public spaces.
Why the sudden changes? And most
importantly, how does one double-mask correctly? Here’s what you need to
know.
Why Is Double-Masking Necessary?
When it comes to double-masking, it all boils down to extra protection.
As Dr. Fauci stated in an interview with the Today show, “If you have a
physical covering with one layer, you put another layer on, it just
makes common sense that it likely would be more effective.” The main
reason why the extra protection is necessary now more than ever is that
the new Covid-19 variants are more contagious than the original strain
of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
As we have specified in our previous article titled Covid-19: What’s
Known About the New Common Variants, it’s easier for these new Covid-19
mutations to bind to human cells. Therefore, minimizing the number of
Novel Coronavirus particles in the air is key, and the easiest way to do
so is to make sure that everyone is wearing masks that offer the best
possible protection.
One way to do so is by wearing two masks. It's important to cover our
noses and mouths completely and for both masks to fit snugly. Not only
will double-masking help protect others if someone in a crowd has
Covid-19, but it will also decrease every individual mask wearer’s risk
of contracting the disease.
All in all, wearing two masks is a better
shield between you and the novel coronavirus. But why aren’t doctors
advising us to wear three, four, or ten masks at the same time, then?
The main reason why that is not a good idea for most people is that
wearing multiple masks will make it difficult for you to breathe,
depending on the material. “You can pack on 10 layers, but what you do
is you lose breathability, they’re uncomfortable and you’ve overdone the
filtering capacity that you want,” states an
infectious diseases specialist and the primary investigator of Yale’s
Pfizer COVID-19 trial.
How to Double-Mask Correctly
There are a few things to keep in mind if you decide to start
double-masking. Here are some key points:
1. Which masks are the best to combine?
Doubling-Up on Masks face masks various
Like
As we mentioned in a previous article, research shows that N95 masks
offer the best filtration against the novel coronavirus. That said,
these masks may not be the best choice for most people because putting
on and breathing in an N95 may be quite tough, especially if you have to
wear it for hours. Still, if you can handle it, wearing an N95 mask is
the gold standard. It is, however, not your only option.
Ideally, you just want to use masks that offer both sufficient air
filtration and breathability according to the specialist. A worthy alternative
to N95 masks is a combination of a cloth mask with a KN95 mask (shown in
the photo below) or a surgical mask. Keep in mind that by "cloth mask",
experts mean a face mask that consists of at least two layers of
tightly-knit material, and certainly not a bandana or a neck gaiter.
2. How Do I Layer Face Masks?
According to infectious disease experts,
the best way to wear two masks is to start with the mask that offers the
best air filtration and then wear the other mask, usually a cloth mask,
over it. Therefore, put on the KN95 or surgical mask first, and then
wear the cloth mask over it. Make sure there are no gaps on the sides of
the masks and they provide a tight fit - this will ensure that no
contaminated air will be able to sneak in from the sides.
All in all, the idea of double-masking is pretty straightforward, and
it’s definitely worth a shot, especially when you have to commute by
public transportation or have to spend time in populated areas for a
long time. We hope you found this article useful.