The double mask was recently endorsed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), with the agency noting that it is just a way to improve the fit and filtering of your mask. A tighter-fitting mask will help prevent potentially contaminated respiratory droplets from leaking out of your mask, which can infect others and increase the spread of COVID in general. And improving the filtering of your mask will also help protect you from inhaling other people’s contaminated droplets, blocking them more efficiently. However, double masking is not the right choice in all situations. Read on to find out when the CDC warns against duplication and for more guidance on what not to do, if you are layering these masks, the CDC tells you to stop immediately.
When it comes to layering your masks for better fit and filtering, the CDC says there are a few things you need to note. If you find breathing difficult after layering your masks, you may need to stop the double mask or find different masks to use. The CDC notes that “breathing may require more effort when wearing a mask that fits and filters better”. This respiratory problem is not only potentially dangerous, it can also increase the likelihood that you will take off your mask from time to time, exposing you to possible contamination. And for more information on the safety of the mask, if you see this on your mask, the FDA says to throw it right away.
According to the CDC, adding an extra mask to the double mask can really block your view. If your vision is obstructed, you may need to stop the double mask or find different masks to apply in layers that will not affect your vision. As the CDC points out, “reduced vision can lead to trips, falls or other injuries”. And for more information from this agency, the CDC is warning you not to do this right before you are vaccinated.
The CDC says that there are also some “mask combinations” that you should avoid when trying to make a double mask. According to the agency, you should not fold disposable masks for medical procedures. After all, these masks “are not designed to fit perfectly” and wearing one on top of the other will do nothing to improve the fit of your mask. However, the CDC does It is recommended to place a cloth mask over a disposable medical mask, as this method “provides much better protection for the user and other people”, compared to using any of these masks alone. And for the most up-to-date information, subscribe to our daily newsletter.
The CDC also warns against applying layers of KN95 masks. According to the agency, “you should only wear one KN95 mask at a time.” In addition, the CDC also says that you should not wear any other type of mask over or under a KN95 mask. How Paul Hickey, president of PuraVita Medical, a company that makes KN95 masks, and Sam Barone, MD, medical director of BioPharma and president of Halodine, previously explained to Better life, this may be because layered KN95 masks can make breathing difficult and can alter the setting, making it less effective and potentially dangerous. And for more concerns about the mask, the CDC has just issued a warning about this type of face mask.
Double masking may seem like an inviting way to provide extra protection, but all of these possible setbacks can cause problems. To ensure that you are using double masking in a safe and effective way, CDC recommends that you try it out at home before going out in public.
“Try walking around the house or out of the house for several minutes, using a mask with better fit and filtering to ensure that you can breathe comfortably and that your vision is not reduced,” recommends the CDC. And to make sure you are as safe as possible, the CDC says this is like knowing that your mask is working.