As new and more contagious variants of the coronavirus float across California, doctors and scientists began to recommend doubling their mask set.
If your usual mask is thin, you should probably upgrade to something more substantive – a two-layer fabric mask with a filter pocket works great, but the widely available KN95 mask is even better. And an N95 mask, sometimes more difficult to get for the general public, is among the best options you can find.
But combining two fabric masks – or better yet, a fabric mask over a KN95 / N95 – can be the golden ticket, as long as the fit is comfortable, comfortable and you can breathe.
This is according to Dr. Kim Shriner, an infectious disease specialist at Huntington Hospital, who echoed statements by scientists and doctors across the country. Many have begun to express support for double masking, citing data showing that it can be substantially more effective in blocking virus particles.
“The double mask principle is simple,” Shriner said in an interview on Friday, January 29. “You have a lot more barriers between you and the virus.”
The masks are effective because they create a “maze” of fibers through which virus particles need to travel, said Shriner. The KN95 and N95 masks are designed with a dense fabric mesh to “physically trap molecules in the mask network. That is why they are so effective. “
An N95 mask is more effective than a KN95, but the latter is more comfortable than the former.
“The most effective mask should be the one closest to your face,” said Shriner.
Shriner did not recommend using two KN95s or N95s because the fit would probably be too bulky and the masks would not fit well. Pairing one of these masks with a fabric mask can fit more comfortably and provide extra protection.
“But no mask is effective if you wear it under your nose,” said Shriner. “This is defeating the purpose.”
Whatever you choose, it needs to fit well, but stay away from crocodiles and bandanas, which “are not very good,” said Shriner, explaining that they can “split” the viral particles in two, potentially making them more easy to spread.
She asked the public especially not to use them in supermarkets “which is a very dangerous thing now”, given the still high case rates and the more contagious variants that are spreading.
“You want to choose a mask that fits you well and is comfortable, so you’re really going to wear it,” said Shriner.
She doesn’t think you need to wear two masks all the time – taking walks, for example – but when you’re making essential trips to the supermarket, that’s when you want some layers. The same applies to any visits to public places where people can be gathered, even if it is outside.
During exercise, Shriner suggests having a mask around your neck so you can pull it off when other people are around. Personally, she wears a single KN95 while walking her dog and an N95, as well as a cloth mask in supermarkets.
“It is a little harder to breathe with two masks,” said Shriner. “You don’t want to be so overwhelmed that you pass out.”
Along with many of his colleagues, Shriner wears two masks while working at Huntington Hospital
“It is very clear that a good mask makes a huge difference,” she said. “It is a safe and inexpensive way to prevent infections. How it became politicized is beyond my understanding, but I hope it will disappear when people realize that it is the best way to protect themselves. “
There is a growing body of research that has repeatedly shown that masks reduce the likelihood of someone spreading the disease – some studies have found an 80% reduction, according to the Centers for Disease Control – but more studies are showing that use mask can also protect the user from breathing viral particles.
N95 masks are particularly effective in protecting the user; KN95 masks are slightly less effective, but still much better than cloth masks.
Two cloth masks that hug the face stacked on top of each other can provide comparable protection, according to Dr. Linsey Marr, a Virginia Tech virus transmission expert and author of a recent commentary showing the science behind the use of the mask, who spoke to the New York Times.
Another option is to buy a cloth mask that opens the face with a filter pocket between the layers; Shriner recommended buying replaceable HEPA filters for these masks, not using vacuum filters or coffee filters “which are not as effective,” she said.