From VOA Learning English, this is the Health and Lifestyle report.
During the coronavirus health crisis, health authorities around the world advised people to take important precautions to protect yourself.
We were asked to wash our hands frequently and correctly. We were also urged to be socially distant from people outside our House. And one of the most important precautions, of course, is to use a face mask.
But as the pandemic continues, some people are asking: Can wearing two masks provide more protection against the virus? The quick answer is: it depends.
Some health experts say that folding the masks can help in some situations.
One such expert is Dr. David Hamer. He is an infectious disease specialist at Boston University. Wearing just one mask should be sufficient for most situations, Hamer told The Associated Press. But the mask needs to fit well, he adds, and not be loose.
The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend using a fabric mask made of two or more layers. The mask, adds the health agency, needs to cover the nose and mouth. And it should fit comfortably in the face.
But even with the most suitable mask, some people may want extra protection in some situations. For example, people at risk of serious illness if infected with the coronavirus can wear two masks. People may also want to fold if they plan to be around other people for long periods indoors or must be in an enclosed area, such as on an airplane.
In high-risk situations, another specialist suggests using a cloth mask, as well as a surgical mask. Dr. Monica Gandhi is an infectious disease specialist at the University of California, San Francisco.
She says that using a cloth and a surgical mask – with any of the masks on top – can offer greater protection against the coronavirus. Using both masks this way, adds Gandhi, can have an effect similar to using an N95 mask.
N95 masks are a type of personal protective equipment designed for healthcare professionals and doctors first to answer. The CDC does not suggest that the general public wear N95 masks.
Gandhi also advises using additional protection for people who will be indoors in areas where infection rates are high.
It offers another suggestion for situations where a person wants to receive the highest level of protection possible: A two-layer fabric mask that has a filter intermediate material.
For people who wear cloth masks for daily use, Gandhi has important advice – make sure the cloth is made of fabric material. She says the mask must also have at least two layers. The layers and tight weave make it more difficult for virus-carrying particles to pass through the material.
And this is the Health and Lifestyle report. I’m Anna Matteo.
Associated Press reporters wrote this story. Anna Matteo adapted for VOA Learning English. Bryan Lynn was the editor.
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Words in this story
precaution – n. a measure taken beforehand to prevent damage or ensure the good
House – n. people from a family or other group who live together in a house
mask – n. a cover used to hide or disguise your face
loose – adj. With clothes : not fitting close to your body : not tight
layer – n. a piece of roofing material or a part that is on or under another
comfortably – adv. fitting up close and comfortable
surgical mask – n. a face mask in a rectangular shape (in fabric or polypropylene fiber) that is usually attached by two straps tied to the back of the head and is intended for use by medical personnel during surgical procedures, especially to protect the user from splashing or splashing of blood or body fluid and to avoid contamination of the patient’s surgical wounds
first answer – n. a person (such as a police officer or paramedic) who is among those responsible for immediately going to the scene of an accident or emergency to provide assistance
filter – n. a device that is used to remove something unwanted from a liquid or gas that passes through it
fabric – adj. form (like fabric) by tying strands of material