The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) is currently studying the effectiveness of dual masks – specifically a cloth mask placed over a medical mask – to stop the spread of the coronavirus, but does not yet have ‘hard data’ to cover. support whether it would be better than using a single mask.
“We do not recommend or oppose double masking,” said Dr. John Brooks, CDC’s chief medical officer of COVID-19, said. “We want to make all the options available to people. If our people can get the mask, that’s the first big step.”
Brooks, who attended the Infectious Diseases Society of America briefing on Friday, said the agency would “share” the information as soon as possible. He said some evidence suggests that the use of a cloth and medical mask could block more than 90% of virus particles, which would be close to the level of protection of N95 masks.
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“Everyone knows that wearing masks is an important part of the public response to COVID-19,” Brooks said in his opening speech. “CDC recommends that people over 2 years of age wear a mask in the public environment and with people outside your household.”
Recently, top experts, such as dr. Anthony Fauci, the past few days the efficiency of two masks versus one designated to stop the spread of viruses.
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“If you have a physical coating with one layer, you apply another layer, it’s only logical that it will probably be more effective,” Fauci said while appearing TODAY. “And that’s why you see people doing double masks or a version of N95.”
Currently, the CDC only recommends N95 masks for healthcare staff.
Brooks added that the agency continues to evaluate the effectiveness of different material combinations, warning that sometimes more is not necessarily equal to better, citing the example of multiple condom use. However, if someone uses a double mask, feels safe and leads it to another person using mask, he does not consider it a problem.
“If double masking is an option to use a mask, I would wholeheartedly endorse it,” he said.
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CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky told NBC’s “Today” on Friday that 59% of Americans currently wear masks.
“There are different types of quality masks and our recommendation is a multi-layer cloth mask or procedure mask or medical mask. N95s certainly offer the best filtration, but it is actually very difficult to tolerate for long periods, and I think the difference between ‘ a two-layer cloth mask and an N95 are relatively small compared to the difference between 41% of the American population. ‘
She said one cloth mask refers to two or three layers.
When a spokesman was asked on Thursday whether the CDC intended to issue new clues on double masks, Fox News outlined the agency’s current guidelines, which recommend wearing masks with two or more layers of washable, breathable material. ‘.