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.
“Fad and status symbol.”
I have seen people in traffic, alone, in airconditioned cars wearing a mask. I have seen people walking alone on roads far in the country wearing a mask.
These people are using the mask as a totem, a rabbits’ foot. My guess is, they have a less than average IQ.
They’re crazy. Just crazy.
I saw a guy with three on the last time I went to town. I frequently see people with two.
We know that fawns offer no protection. What about bucks with a single mask?
Dunno about flies and mosquitos, but I wear a mesh mask when needed, for 1) compliance; 2) ultra-breathability; and 3) because a chain link mask would be too heavy, and irritating to the skin.
Other than that, I just stopped in to read the comments....
Oxygen starvation is a key element to getting high.
Strong evidence for masks? Oh, you mean like my mother’s former nursing home where they required masks AND face shields, constant hand-washing and daily deep cleanings. Well, they prided themselves on having zero Covid cases... until November. One person tested positive, and their mandatory masks and face shields didn’t keep it from spreading to more than half of the residents and staff within a week! In other words, once Covid comes your way, your little mask doesn’t do squat.
First we got feared into condoms now we got government mandated face condoms....NO KISSING FOR YOU ! , says sex nazi fauci
Biden is going to wear two diapers...
I hear putting your head in a plastic bag and tying it around your neck will prevent COVID for the rest of your life.
I actually LOVE message masks.
They appease the liberals all around me until the read the message.
MAGA and “Appeasing the Sheep” make them mad, then they wish we had no masks.
I assume the masks are about 10 to 30 per cent effective at what they’re supposed to be doing. Therefore the math would probably look like this (for 20 per cent effective)
No. masks ____ percent effectiveness
___ 1 _________ 20
___ 2 _________ 24
___ 3 _________ 28.8
___ 4 _________ 34.56
___ 5 _________ 41.47
___ 6 _________ about 50
Since this series is not going to asymptote towards 100 but break through, I then adjust the numbers slightly down each time, so 6 masks about 45 per cent effective, 7 masks give you a 50-50 chance, and 10 masks get you up around a two in three chance of blocking the in-out transmission.
At 20 masks you should be well protected although very likely to suffocate to death.
Good luck.
I wanted one that said “Virtue Signal”,
Our son has had SOME real schooling. We have a choice of full real, full Zoom or hybrid.
One of his lady friends wears at least 2 masks and shamed him outside, etc.
It occurred to us, why is she in school full time if she’s so afraid of this? Usually kids who are this scared are because their parents are (not shocking around here). Knowing there are choices, we figured maybe SHE is afraid but her parents will have none of it and are forcing her (her parents are German and Iranian, incidentally).
It kills very slowly, leaves the deep lung tissue more vulnerable to infection, works faster on the elderly
Tampons or baby diapers would be even better
Is this like jockeys wearing multiple goggles for mud?
Do they pull down the outer mask when done with it?
I bet you can find it!
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