With variants of COVID-19 popping up across the country, mixed with a slow release of vaccines, health experts say masking is more important than ever.
“The most important thing is that everyone wears a mask,” said Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of NIAID.
And not just one, but two, according to some experts. The members of President Biden’s office agree.
“It makes sense that it is more effective,” said Fauci.
The CDC does not explicitly recommend double masking, nor does it say the same for an N-95, although the CDC and the World Health Organization recommend multi-layered cloth masks.
“I’m not a doctor. I don’t want to tell someone who has difficulty breathing that, because they are at high risk of lung disease, they need a double mask. These are decisions that need to be based on the ability to breathe,” said the director of the Department. Allentown Health Center, Vicky Kistler.
The Allentown Health Bureau is adhering to the CDC’s current guidance until it says otherwise. Kistler says it’s hard enough to try to get people to wear a mask, let alone fold it.
“What we’re telling people is that if you have a two-layer fabric mask with a good seal, it must be protected,” said Kistler.
If you are one of the lucky few who have been vaccinated, you are not free of the mask. Experts say that until the community is immunized and the spread of the community is minimized, you still need to use one or two if you want.