And now, with a more contagious variant of COVID-19 detected in the United States, it remains to be seen whether people should double their protection.
Former presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg was seen wearing two masks at the inauguration.
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“I address this as I approach the Chicago winter,” said Dr. Michelle Prickett of Northwestern Medicine. “If I’m going to be gone for a long time, I’m going to make layers.”
Dr. Prickett said that a double-mask term is not necessary. Instead, she says, mask according to your surroundings.
“If you go to the supermarket and are going to be on the sidewalk, maybe a smaller mask is acceptable,” explained Dr. Prickett. “If you are entering the supermarket and it will take you an hour to get there, you may want to think about a double mask because there will likely be more people in the store.”
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Health experts say wearing a mask is still one of the best safety measures to slow the spread of COVID. Dr. Robert Citronberg of Advocate Aurora Health said that using just a good quality mask is sufficient.
“The ideal mask is a three-layer mask with two layers of fabric and then an internal filter,” said Citronberg. “This is the best type of mask you would use. I advise using single layer fabric masks and leg warmers.”
And in many cases, masks have become a fashion statement. At the Humboldt House boutique in Humboldt Park, they recently stocked up designs by local artists after they nearly sold out at Christmas.
Experts say that, in the long run, it all comes down to making mistakes by being too cautious. If you use two masks, you can take one if it’s too much. Just make sure that what is on your face is of good quality.
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