From VOA Learning English this is the Health & Lifestyle report.
During the coronavirus health crisis, health officials around the world have advised people to be important precautions to protect themselves.
We were asked to wash our hands regularly and correctly. We are also asked to stay socially distant from people outside our own household. And one of the most important precautions is of course to wear a face mask.
But as the pandemic continues, some people are now asking: Can carry two masks provide more protection against the virus? The quick answer is: it depends.
Some health experts believe that doubling the masks may help in some situations.
One of the experts is Dr. David Hamer. He is an expert in infectious diseases at Boston University. Wearing just one mask should be enough for most situations, Hamer told The Associated Press. But the mask should fit well, he adds and should not be loose.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends wearing a cloth mask of two or more layers. The mask, according to health care, should cover both the nose and mouth. And it must fit hug on the face.
But even with the best fitting mask, some people want extra protection in some situations. For example, people who are at risk for serious illness if they are infected with the coronavirus may want to wear two masks. People may also want to double down if they plan to be indoors with others or have to be in a closed environment, such as in an airplane.
In high-risk situations, another expert suggests wearing a cloth mask as well as a surgical mask. Dr. Monica Gandhi is an expert in Infectious Diseases at the University of California, San Francisco.
She says a cloth as well as a surgical mask – with any mask on top – can provide increased protection against the coronavirus. If Gandhi wears the two masks like this, it can have a similar effect as wearing an N95 mask.
N95 masks are a type of personal protective equipment designed for healthcare professionals and medical respond first. The CDC does not suggest that the general public wear N95 masks.
Gandhi also recommends using extra protection for people who will be indoors in areas with high infection rates.
She offers another suggestion for situations where a person wants to receive the highest level of protection: a two-layer cloth mask with a filter material in between.
For people who wear single-face masks for everyday use, Gandhi has one important piece of advice – make sure the cloth is made strong woven material. She says the mask should also contain at least two layers. The layers and the tight fabric make it harder for virus-carrying particles to move through the material.
And this is the Health & Lifestyle report. I’m Anna Matteo.
Associated Press reporters wrote this story. Anna Matteo adapted it for VOA learning English. Bryan Lynn was the editor.
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Words in this story
precaution – n. a measure taken in advance to prevent or insure damage
household – n. the people in a family or other group living together in one house
mask – n. a covering used to hide or disguise your face
loose – adj. of clothes : does not fit close to your body : not stiff
low – n. a covering piece of material or a part lying over or under another
hug – adv. fit now and comfortable
surgical mask – n. a rectangular face mask (such as fabric or polypropylene fiber) which is usually fastened by two straps to the back of the head and is intended to be worn by medical personnel during surgical procedures, in particular to protect the wearer from splashes of blood or body fluids and to prevent contamination to prevent the patient’s surgical wounds
first answer – n. a person (such as a police officer or an EMT) who is responsible among those who immediately goes to the scene of an accident or emergency to provide assistance
filter – n. a device used to remove something unwanted from a liquid or gas passing through it
woven – adj. to form (as a cloth) by threading strands of material together