Recent events have left some doubts as to whether they should wear two masks instead of one, or whether there should be a specification for the masks they wear.
As of Monday, the Austrian government is requiring all residents to bring N95 in retail stores and supermarkets and on public transport. He says cotton and fabric masks are not enough.
The idea of double masking became really evident during the Washington events this week. Some political officials did, such as former presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg. White House press secretary Jen Psaki also doubled down on her first press conference.
A New York Times report last week suggested that using everyone’s N95 would be a good idea. They are designed to block 95% of small particles.
Dr. Jake Deutsch, emergency medicine physician and head of medicine at CURE Urgent Care in New York, told NY1 that if you don’t have a mask like an N95, a second coat will always come in handy.
“Having a less favorable mask, maybe just a surgical mask or something you’ve made at home, putting on a second coat or barrier as an extra layer of protection is never bad,” Deutsch said.
“We want to make the air move in a pattern that’s a little undulating, spinning and spinning to block particles, and the finer the degree of the material, the less likely it is that the particles we care about the virus will pass through, and then having two layers will be like a second layer of protection to prevent that transmission, ”he continued.
Deutsch also said that regardless of the number of masks worn, it is important how they are worn, how to make sure your nose is covered.
“When it comes to masking, it’s only as good as the level of protection you have and if you use something as sophisticated as an N95 or just a piece of fabric, it’s really about how you use it and the circumstances in which it is used. find. which allows that barrier to work, ”he said.
Properly unmasking is also important. Deutsch said the masks should be removed from the side, not from the nose down, to avoid exposing any possible virus particles from the mask to the face.
He also said that fabric masks should be washed every day and fit properly.