Check your fit on that double mask if you want it to work against Covid, the study says

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That’s because the added protection that double masking provides is not so much about adding layers of fabric as it is about eliminating gaps or ill-fitting areas of a mask, said lead author Emily Sickbert-Bennett, an associate professor of infectious diseases at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine. The study was published Friday in JAMA Internal Medicine.

“We have found that wearing two loosely fitting masks does not give you the filtration advantage that a tight-fitting mask will have,” Sickbert-Bennett said in a statement.

“The best form of double masking is when you and the person you are communicating with are each wearing a very form-fitting mask correctly,” she said.

Double masking usually involves placing a disposable surgical or medical grade mask under a cloth mask.

A man wears a double mask as he walks through Times Square in New York City.
Disposable surgical masks are made of three layers of non-woven fabric, usually made of plastic. The colored top layer of the fabric is made from spunbond medical grade polypropylene, a resin polymer that is heat bonded into a web-like structure. Surgical masks are made with nose wires that can be used to make the mask fit the face better (and protect your glasses from fogging up).
You can make a disposable mask fit better, the CDC says, by tying the ear loops where they meet the edge of the mask, then folding and tucking the unnecessary material under the edges. The CDC has a video here to show you how.
When you choose your fabric mask, studies say it should be a 2- or 3-layer fabric with a tight weave. Use the light test to check the fabric: if you can easily see the outline of the individual fibers when you hold the mask up to the light, it probably isn’t effective.
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Choose cloth masks with nose wires, the CDC says, and “ bend the nose wire over your nose so that it fits close to your face. ”

Place both masks over the bridge of the nose, under the chin and flat on the face, resting along the skin. “The cloth mask should press the edges of the disposable mask against your face,” the CDC says.

An important note: don’t put two disposable masks on top of each other. Those aren’t “designed to fit tight, and wearing more than one won’t improve the fit,” the CDC says.

In addition, you should not apply a KN95-type mask to a double layer, the CDC warns. KN95 masks are not certified by the US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, but a few KN95 mask manufacturers have received approval for use in healthcare in the US.

Check the fit

Here’s how to check that your mask is fitting properly, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
  • Place your hands against your face around the outer edges of the mask.
  • Breathe in and out and check that no air is flowing away from your eyes or from the sides of the mask.
  • When the mask fits properly, you will feel warm air coming through the front of the mask and can see the mask material moving in and out with each breath.
  • Keep in mind that none of this will work if you pull down your mask to expose your nose. Stay fully masked at all times.

The CDC suggests that men shave their beards or at least trim the beard close to the face. “Masks designed for people with beards are being evaluated, and information will be provided when it becomes available,” the CDC said.

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If you have any issues with the fit, the CDC suggests considering a mask fitter, or bracket, to prevent air from leaking around the edges of the mask.

A mask fitter is a small, frame-like device usually made of sturdy or elastic plastic. It is placed over a mask and fastened against the face with headbands or ear loops. These devices are reusable, so you should clean them well after each use.

When used correctly, mask filters can enhance protection “for aerosols in the size range considered to be the most important for transmitting SARS-CoV-2,” the virus that causes Covid-19, the CDC said.
Make sure to properly clean and dispose of your masks as well. Surgical masks are only one-time use, and if they are dirty, the mask should be carefully disposed of and replaced, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
The CDC recommends keeping soiled fabric masks in sealed plastic bags until you can wash them.

“Wash wet or dirty masks as soon as possible to prevent them from becoming moldy. Wet masks are difficult to breathe through and are less effective than dry masks,” says the CDC.

Dry your mask completely in a warm or hot dryer, the CDC says, or by hanging it “in direct sunlight to dry completely. If you can’t hang it in direct sunlight, hang or lay it flat and let it dry. dry it completely. “

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