Two facial masks? N95? Protect yourself against new variants of Covid-19 with these mask upgrades

“Now more than ever, the next four or six months are the most critical time to augment your mask,” says John Volckens, a professor of mechanical engineering at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colo.

But how exactly did they chew better? And what other orientation about masking has changed? This is what you need to know.

What is double masking and why do people talk about it?

Double masking wears one mask over another. This blocks more particles as you have two layers and the fit is tighter, creating a tighter seal around the face with fewer gaps. “Double masking is an abbreviation for improving the mask,” says Linsey Marr, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Virginia Tech.

What is the best way to double mask?

Most experts say it is a way to follow a cloth mask over a surgical mask. A cloth mask can also help when worn over a KF94 mask, which is certified in South Korea to filter at least 94% of very small particles, says Dr. Marr. KF94s can get a little loose on the sides, so a fabric mask can help you stretch it further into your face.

Generally, a second mask is not required when wearing an N95, which is certified to filter at least 95% very small particles, or a KN95, the Chinese equivalent of an N95. But it could help protect the N95’s material and expand its use.

It is important to maintain perspiration when double masking is done, says Dr. Volckens. “If a mask isn’t breathable, one of two things happens,” he says. “If there is too much resistance, the mask will leak or if it is too uncomfortable, you will remove it.”

What about filter cloth masks?

A large filter that fits your nose and mouth can improve filtration, says Mark Rupp, head of the infectious diseases division at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. But if the filter only covers a small area, it’s probably not very useful. It says filters should be replaced when wet or dirty. Dr. Volckens recommends masks with a permanent built-in filter.

I have an N95. Should I wear it?

More experts recommend wearing an N95 if you have one to better protect it against new variants, although the CDC has said they should be reserved for medical workers. Legitimate N95s can be hard to find for regular consumers.

The level of risk in your environment is important, says Joseph Allen, director of the Healthy Buildings program at Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health. You probably don’t need to bring an N95 if you’re walking with a friend or in the outdoor patio. But if you work inside a restaurant or grocery store or go to an indoor place with a lot of people, it’s a good idea to bring one.

In hospitals, N95s are carefully adapted. So look for leaks around your face, says Rachael Mary Jones, an associate professor in the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine at the University of Utah. “You have to pinch the metal tab on the top of your nose very firmly, to the point that it feels uncomfortable, so that it fits the shape of your face,” says Dr. Jones.

But if you find tight N95s are unbearably uncomfortable, avoid them, as you’re more likely to take them off, says Monica Gandhi, an infectious disease doctor and professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco.

What is the difference between an N95, a KN95 and a KF94? Is one better than the other?

Dr. Allen says a very low second of the N95s are the KF94s, a certified mask in South Korea that American consumers can easily find online. “We can have a lot of confidence in these masks,” Dr. Allen says. “They capture 94% of the particles and are much more comfortable.”

Another popular choice are KN95 masks, the Chinese equivalent of an N95. But Dr. Allen warns that there are a significant number of fake KN95s on the market. “These masks worry me, because if you don’t do your homework you might get a mask worse than a cloth one,” Dr. Allen says. He. The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration warns against KN95s coming from China, unless their manufacturer is certified by the U.S. National Institute of Occupational Health and Safety (NIOSH).

Should I worry about counterfeiting N95, KF94 or surgical masks?

In the United States, NIOSH certifies companies that manufacture N95 respirators, which must have an approved label on or inside the packaging. If there is no dialing, no TC number is written or NIOSH is misspelled, it is a red mark.

So far, experts say they are not aware of the widespread falsification of KF94 or standard surgical masks, but it is advisable to be careful about labeling.

How effective are the blue surgical masks available?

Filtration of blue surgical masks may vary. Look for ASTM certification in surgical mask boxes. “These are great for filtering aerosols of all sizes,” says Dr. Marr. Level two and three are especially good.

The downside of surgical masks is that they do not fit perfectly on most faces. “It’s just a rectangle and you try to make it fit your face, so that inevitably there are gaps in the side so that they filter like crazy,” Dr. Marr says. This is where double masking can come in handy.

How do I know if my mask fits well?

When breathing, the mask should be pressed or flexed in the face with the flow of air. You can also breathe. There should be no air gaps coming out of the sides of the mask.

If the glasses darken, it means air is escaping through the top of the mask through the bridge of the nose, says Dr. Volckens. If you are not wearing glasses, wear sunglasses to see if they smoke.

Another good test: stand in front of a mirror and breathe hard. Have you blinked? If so, this means that the air hits the eyelids and escapes around the mask.

In addition to double masking, are there other ways to improve my mask fit?

Dr. Marr says that mask mounts, while unsightly, can make a big difference and improve the performance of a tighter mask, like a surgical mask.

The metal bridges in the nose also help improve fit, as do the straps around the head, says Dr. Marr. Mask protectors (small clips that attach to the earbuds and wrap around the head) are also useful.

Many of these masks, such as N95, KN95, KF94, and surgical masks, are supposed to be disposable, but people often reuse them. How often can I carry them and how to store them between uses?

Some scientists say these masks can be worn until they get dirty or damaged. Dr. Jones says multiple uses will not degrade filtration; it is the fit that can degrade.

Store disposable masks that you want to wear back somewhere dry and away from other things, such as in a paper bag or open Tupperware, or hang them somewhere, experts say.

Do not use chemical disinfectants on masks. “If you spray chemicals on the mask, you will inhale those chemicals,” Dr. Volckens says. And don’t wash N95, as it will impair its electrical filtration capacity, he warns.

What kind of mask should children wear?

Dr. Gandhi says it is generally not necessary for children to make double masks. There are smaller size KF94 and surgical masks that are good for children, but any well-fitting fabric mask will bring some benefit.

Avoid masks that children have to throw away a lot. “Comfort is key for this population,” says Dr. Gandhi. “The fit has to be adjusted, but it has to allow for a natural conversation.”