You may see more people wearing double masks, and the philosophy behind them is that low filtering and better protection, according to an infectious disease expert in Maryland.
You may see more people wearing double masks, and the philosophy behind them is that low filtering and better protection, according to an infectious disease expert in Maryland.
“Additional layers provide additional filtration, and therefore protection to the mask wearer,” said dr. Gregory Schrank, a physician at Infectious Diseases and co-epidemiologist at the University of Maryland Medical Center, said.
“Of these masks, whether they are multilayer, multilayer with a filter in between, or multiple masks – the protection offered by multiple layers and additional filtration is really what we consider to be an advantage for the mask wearer,” Schrank said. said. is also an assistant professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore.
Schrank emphasizes that masks should fit snugly without gaps along the nose, cheeks or chin.
“But we want to make sure that the mask is also comfortable for people, so that they are more likely to wear it and wear it during the day,” he said.
Schrank does not recommend wearing hoods that are usually made of thin cloth and may hang loosely in the neck.
“The degree of filtration of wearing it has been greatly reduced,” he said.
The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention also warns that balaclavas, scarves and ski masks are not a substitute for masks during cold weather. It is recommended to wrap your scarf, or to wear a ski mask or balaclava over your mask.
You can find comprehensive machine wear on the CDC website.
WTOP contacted the CDC for comment on whether it was developing mask filtering standards.
Although vaccinations against COVID-19 are ongoing in Maryland, Virginia and DC, Schrank said the area is unlikely to have an effect on community transmission until a much larger portion of the population is vaccinated.
As an example of Israel, Schrank said that a very large percentage of the community there has been vaccinated, and there are any suggestions that this may have an impact on the transmission.
But the US still has a long way to go.
“Before we get to the point, you have to stick to the mask and physical distance, and the other guidance we recommend throughout the pandemic is so important, especially since we see these potentially more transmissible strains popping up in different parts of the world. . world, ”he said.
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