As new variants of COVID-19 emerge that are potentially more contagious, experts say masks are more important than ever because they reduce the spread of the virus, regardless of the variant.
“Variants do not affect the type of mask you need to wear. It affects the importance of wearing a mask and making sure you have a good fit,” Dr. Stanley Weiss, epidemiologist and professor at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and Rutgers School of Public Health, he told ABC News.
The key, experts say, is to wear a mask that fits well and consistently. In some cases, this may mean using an extra mask if it is tolerable, but in most cases it is not necessary. So keep it simple and make sure that your mask completely covers your mouth and nose and keep it on when you cannot properly distance yourself.
“The critical problem is that many people are not wearing the mask correctly. Some people have a mask that falls from their nose,” said Weiss. “They also need a mask that fits well along the nose to get a tight seal. If you feel that the air is escaping or if your glasses are fogging up because of the mask, it is not fitting well and in these situations , use a second mask to get a tighter seal may make more sense. “
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say that the mask should completely cover the nose and mouth, fit comfortably to the sides of the face, have no cracks and have two or more layers of washable and breathable fabric.
America’s leading infectious disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, said the CDC’s recommendations are crystal clear.
“What they are saying is, ‘Do you know what a good start would be? If everyone wore at least a mask,'” Fauci said in an interview with Fox News on Wednesday. “I think that would be important.”
Widespread vaccinations, constant airflow and people spread over 2 meters would have a major impact in reducing the spread of the virus, including the new variants, and masks are also part of that plan.
“It is not a perfect solution to the pandemic, but the value of wearing the mask has been proven continuously,” said Dr. David Hirschwerk, an infectious disease specialist at Northwell Health, Manhasset. “The CDC continues to recommend the use of facial covers with two or three layers of washable and breathable fabric.”
Two or three layers of fabric that fit your face perfectly are better than a wide headband or a do-it-yourself pattern that you left out of the curtains.
Still, some experts are suggesting that more is more.
“There is some suggestion that wearing a double mask, which you certainly saw a lot on display at the opening, may offer better protection,” said ABC News chief medical correspondent, Dr. Jennifer Ashton, in “Good Morning America” this week. “You have to balance that with being really able to breathe.”
Dr. Michael Calderwood, an infectious doctor at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, said the most important thing is to stick to the plan: consistent mask use.
“Increasing the number of masks by placing something on top of another mask or using N95 masks on another mask leads to many changes to the masks, touching the mask, removing the mask and it will be counterproductive,” said Calderwood.
A N95 mask filters 95% of the airborne particles and, if used correctly, is the gold standard, but it is not recommended for the average person because there is a shortage and comes with some requirements to make them work.
“N95s are respirators and are ‘tested’ for healthcare professionals and are used on patients with COVID-19 for aerosol generation procedures. They can be uncomfortable if used for long periods of time,” he said Dr. Rachel Lee, assistant professor of infectious diseases at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
The key to proper mask choices is finding a balance between comfort, fit and level of filtration.
“Wearing an appropriate mask with an appropriate fit has been effective up to this point in the pandemic and will continue to be effective,” said Dr. John O’Horo, an infectious disease specialist at the Mayo Clinic. “If a mask does not fit properly, for example, if it is loose around the nose, it is better to buy a mask with a nasal thread to help seal it than an N95 mask.”
Joseph Allen, director of the Healthy Buildings program and an associate professor at Harvard’s School of Public Health TH Chan, agrees with the CDC’s recommendations, but also said to consider other risk factors, such as whether or not to be outdoors or indoors.
“If you are going for a walk with a friend outside the home, a two or three layer mask is sufficient. If you are an essential worker or stay indoors for long periods of time, then you will want to find a mask that has a higher level of protection, a minimum three-layer surgical mask. “
Mishal Reja, MD, is a gastroenterology fellow at SUNY Downstate and contributes to ABC News Medical Unit.
Eric Strauss contributed to this report.