Recent events have raised the question of whether they should wear two masks instead of one, or whether there should be a specification for the masks that are worn.
From Monday, the Austrian government will require all residents to wear N95s in shops and supermarkets and on public transport. It says cotton and cloth masks are not enough.
The idea of double masking only really became apparent this week during the events from Washington. Some political officials did, such as former presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg. White House press officer Jen Psaki also spoke double at her first media conference.
A report from the New York Times last week suggested it would be a good idea to let everyone use N95s. They are designed to block 95% of the fine particles.
Dr. Jake Deutsch, an emergency care physician and chief medical officer of CURE Urgent Care New York City, told NY1 that if you don’t have a mask like an N95, a second coat is always helpful.
“Having a less favorable mask, maybe just a surgical mask or something you made at home, applying a second coat or barrier as an extra layer of protection is never a bad thing,” said Deutsch.
“We want the air to move in a pattern that wavers and twists and spins a bit to block particles, and the finer the quality of the material, the less likely the particles we are concerned about will move the virus , and then having two layers is like a second layer of protection to prevent that transfer, ”he continued.
Deutsch also said that no matter how many masks one wears, how they are worn is important, such as making sure the nose is covered.
“When it comes to masking it’s only as good as the level of protection you have, and whether you’re using something advanced like an N95 or just a piece of cloth, it’s really about how you use it and the conditions in which you makes that barrier work, ”he said.
Good exposure is also important. Deutsch said masks should be removed from the side, not from the nose down, to prevent possible virus particles from the mask getting onto the face.
He also said cloth masks should be washed every day and fit properly.