Posted on 01/22/2021 12:45:42 PM PST by nickcarraway
While some people are still pushing back against wearing a face mask in public despite strong evidence that covering the nose and mouth helps protect the wearer and those around them from COVID-19 infection, others are taking their level of protection one step further by doubling up and wearing two.
Layered face masks have been spotted on everyone from President Joe Biden to New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick to essential workers on public transportation and at the grocery store.
But is wearing two face masks actually more effective than wearing one? And is it even safe to layer up? We asked experts to weigh in.
Is wearing two face masks more protective against COVID-19 than one? First, there’s plenty of science to support wearing one face mask. Research shared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests that having people wear masks can dramatically reduce the spread of COVID-19, and subsequently, hospitalizations and deaths from the novel coronavirus.
For example, one often-cited study of two hairstylists who had COVID-19 found that none of the 67 clients they worked on over an eight-day period who consented to testing developed an infection. The stylists and their clients wore masks at the time of their interaction. Another study of health care workers in Boston found that there was a significant drop in positive coronavirus test results after mask-wearing was adopted by staff.
“The goal of using a mask is to create a barrier,” says infectious disease expert Dr. Amesh A. Adalja, senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. “If you’re using some kind of flimsy mask, then having a double mask may help.” But he adds that “it’s not something that every person needs to do.”
There’s no concrete data on the additional benefits of double masking yet, but experts have some theories on when it could be worth considering, especially if you’re wearing a non-medical grade face covering (as most of us are).
“Double masking adds an extra layer of filter, making it even more difficult for the drops of moisture ridden with the virus to get to you or to spread to others,” says Aline M. Holmes, D.N.P., R.N., a clinical associate professor at the Rutgers University School of Nursing. She says it could serve as bonus protection for people who are in high-risk settings for coronavirus transmission, like a hospital or nursing home.
It could also be a good idea to double up if you’re sick with COVID-19 and want to do everything you can to protect other people in your home from contracting the virus. (Note: You should still be isolated away from others whenever possible.)
However, many experts “don’t think it’s necessary,” including Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease specialist and professor at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. “I’m glad there are some people doubly committed to wearing a mask, but it’s not been studied,” he says. “Double masking may provide some additional protection in both directions — out as well as in — but it’s not officially recommended by anyone at this time.”
“When I go into a COVID patient’s room, I wear two — an N95 respirator with a surgical one over it,” says Dr. Richard Watkins, an infectious disease physician and a professor of internal medicine at the Northeast Ohio Medical University. “When I come out, I throw away the surgical one and keep the N95.” The goal, Dr. Watkins says, is to help protect his N95 mask for future use, given that supplies are limited.
Is wearing two face masks safe?
If you choose to wear two face masks, it’s “not going to hurt you” as long as you can still breathe easily, Dr. Adalja says. If you feel restriction, you will still have a layer of protection by sticking to one mask.
There also doesn’t seem to be any “right” way to do this or any particular type of mask that is a better fit for this method. “Just make sure the first mask fits well over your nose and mouth,” Dr. Schaffner says.
Plus, it’s important to remember that wearing two face masks doesn’t mean you should stop social distancing from people outside of your household and washing your hands thoroughly and frequently. “If you’re doubling up your mask and still engaging in risky behavior, that’s not going to help you,” Dr. Adalja says.
Does Chain Link Fencing keeps flies and mosquitos better than regular Mesh type screening??
Not relevant. It’s not protecting you through sieving. It protecting you based on physics.
Yeah, the old two bag answer. Then gnaw off your nose.
They are just trying to flush out the disobedient hooligans who need to be reeducated in a death camp.
It’s still a lot quicker to fasten a plastic band around your neck with a rubber band.
Only 2? Why not THREE masks, or TEN?
Or, buy an N95 mask. Stop the idiocy.
Very small excerpt from a document entitled
PANDEMIC INFLUENZA PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE GUIDANCE FOR HEALTHCARE WORKERS AND HEALTHCARE EMPLOYERS. Occupational Safety and Health Administration
OSHA 3328-05R 2009
“When personal protective equipment is necessary to protect against droplet transmission of infectious agents, employees must place a barrier between the source of the droplet (e.g., a sneeze) and their mucosal surfaces. Such protection could include a surgical mask to cover the mouth and nose and safety glasses to cover the eyes. Recent studies show that aerosol penetration through a surgical mask is highly dependent on particle size, mask construction, and breathing flow rate.
One study showed that penetration rates for submicron particles could be as high as 80 percent for surgical masks.36
Even relatively unconventional uses (e.g., the wearing of multiple surgical masks) have been shown to be less protective than NIOSH-certified respirators. For example, research has shown that the use of up to five surgical masks worn by volun teers results in particle reduction of only 63 percent for one mask, 74 percent for two masks, 78 percent for three masks, and 82 percent for five masks, compared with a recommended reduction of at least 95 percent for properly fitted N95 respirators.37”
36 Chen CC, Willeke K. Aerosol penetration through surgical masks. Am J Infect Control 1992; 20(4):177- 184.
37 Derrick JL, Gomersall CD. Protecting healthcare staff from severe acute respiratory syndrome: filtra- tion capacity of multiple surgical masks. J Hosp Infect 2005; 59(4):365-368.
I wear two face masks already.
One in the front and one in the back.
Am I doing it wrong?
What does the Big Time ‘Rat, Fauxcy, say?
He’s Mr. Science.
Fad and status symbol.
They offer double the collection of Covid virus particles enabling you to come down with the flu faster ...
If you wear underpants and jeans, do your farts strop smelling? What about wearing underpants, and two pairs of jeans - does that hold your farts from stinking up the room? Or do fewer people run away screaming?
Yikes, proofreading is hard:
It’s still easier to place a plastic bag over your head and fasten it with a rubber band.
Please show me the state or nation with a mask mandate that has had a better outcome against Covid.
You cannot.
Florida, with more elderly and less mandates (mask/lockdown), has a better outcome than California with incredibly strict mask/lockdown mandates.
Please explain that.
~Easy
used to spread communism. Next up ---- Climate Change where millions of Americans will be starved to death but "We're all in this together." Right?
Totally Biden Compliant.
I’m ordering my RESIST mask this week. Oddly it is described as “Anti-Trump”.
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