With new COVID-19 variants emerging that may be more contagious, specialists say masks are more important than ever because they will reduce the spread of the virus, regardless of variant.
“The variants don’t affect the type of mask you should wear. It does affect the importance of wearing a mask and ensuring a good fit,” says Dr. Stanley Weiss, an epidemiologist and professor at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and Rutgers School of Public Health, told ABC News.
The key, experts say, is to wear a mask that fits properly and wear it consistently. In some cases this may mean wearing an extra mask if this is bearable, but in most cases it is not necessary. So keep it simple and make sure your mask covers your mouth and nose completely and keep it on if you can’t keep enough distance
“The crucial problem is that a lot of people don’t wear the mask correctly. Some people have a mask that falls off their nose,” Weiss said. “They also need a mask that fits snugly around the nose to get a good seal. using the second mask to get a tighter seal might make more sense. “
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said a mask should cover your nose and mouth completely, fit snugly against the sides of your face, have no gaps, and have two or more layers of washable, breathable fabric.
America’s top infectious disease specialist, Dr. Anthony Fauci, said the CDC’s recommendations are crystal clear.
“What they say is,” You know what would be a good start? If everyone wears at least one mask, “Fauci said in an interview on Fox News Wednesday.” I think that would be important.
Widespread vaccinations, steady airflow, and people spread over six feet would all have a huge impact in slowing the spread of the virus, including the new variants, and masks are also part of that plan.
“It’s not a perfect solution to the pandemic, but the value of using masks has been proven time and again,” says Dr. David Hirschwerk, an infectious disease specialist at Northwell Health, Manhasset. “The CDC continues to recommend the use of face covers that consist of two to three layers of washable, breathable fabric.”
Two or three layers of fabric that fit your face well is better than a loose-fitting bandana or any DIY leftover pattern from the curtains.
Still, some experts suggest that more is more.
“It is suggested that wearing a double mask, which you certainly saw a lot in full view during the inauguration, could provide better protection,” said Dr. Jennifer Ashton, ABC News Chief Medical Correspondent, this week on “Good Morning America.” “You have to balance that by actually being able to breathe.”
Dr. Michael Calderwood, an infectious disease physician at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, said the most important thing to stick to is consistent mask use.
“Increasing the number of masks by putting something on top of another mask or by wearing N95 masks on another mask will lead to a lot of shifting of the masks, touching the mask, removing the mask and will be counterproductive Calderwood said.
An N95 mask filters 95% of the airborne particles and when worn correctly it is the gold standard but it is not recommended for the average person as there is a shortage and there are some requirements to have them to work.
“N95s are gas masks and are ‘fit-tested’ for health professionals and are used in COVID-19 patients for aerosol-generating procedures. They can be uncomfortable if worn for long periods of time,” said Dr. Rachel Lee, assistant professor of Infectious Diseases at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
The key to making the right mask choices is finding a balance between comfort, fit and filtration level.
“Wearing an appropriate mask with a good fit has been effective up to this point in the pandemic and will continue to be effective,” said Dr. John O’Horo, infectious disease specialist at the Mayo Clinic. “If a mask does not ‘fit properly’, for example if it is loose on the nose, it is better to buy a mask with a nose thread to help with the seal than an N95 mask.
Joseph Allen, director of the Healthy Buildings program and associate professor at Harvard’s TH Chan School of Public Health, agrees with the CDC recommendations, but said to consider other risk factors, such as whether or not you are indoors. or outside.
“If you’re going out for a walk with a friend, a two-layer mask or a three-layer mask is fine. If you’re an essential worker, or if you’re going to be indoors for an extended period of time, you’ll want to find a mask that’s higher protection level, a minimal three-layer surgical mask. “
Mishal Reja, MD, is an incoming gastroenterology fellow at SUNY Downstate and a contributor to the ABC News Medical Unit.
Eric Strauss contributed to this report.