As new potentially more contagious variants of COVID-19 appear, experts say the masks are more important than ever because they will reduce the spread of the virus regardless of the variant.
“Variants don’t affect the type of mask you have to wear. It affects the importance of wearing a mask and making sure you have a good fit,” Dr. Stanley Weiss, an epidemiologist and professor at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and Rutgers School of Public Health, told ABC News.
The key, according to experts, is to wear a mask that fits well and wear it consistently. In some cases, this may mean wearing an extra mask if it is tolerable, but for most it is not necessary. Simply make sure the mask completely covers your mouth and nose and keep it on when you can’t distance yourself properly.
“The critical problem is that a lot of people don’t wear the mask properly. Some people have a mask that falls off their nose,” Weiss said. “They also need a mask that fits their nose well to get a tight seal. If you feel air leaking or if the glasses darken from the mask, it doesn’t look good, and in these situations, use a second mask to get a tighter seal may make more sense “.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said a mask should completely cover your nose and mouth, fit snugly against the sides of your face, have no gaps, and have two or more layers of washable, breathable fabric.
The leading U.S. infectious disease specialist, Dr. Anthony Fauci, said the CDC’s recommendations are clear.
“What they say is,‘ Do you know what a good start would be? If everyone wore at least one mask, “Fauci said in an interview with Fox News on Wednesday.” I think it would be important. “
Widespread vaccination, constant airflow and the dispersal of people over 6 feet would have a big impact in slowing the spread of the virus, including new variants, and masks are also part of this. plan.
“It’s not a perfect solution to the pandemic, but the value of using masks has been proven time and time again,” said Dr. David Hirschwerk, an infectious disease specialist at Northwell Health, Manhasset. “The CDC continues to recommend the use of facial coatings that have two or three layers of washable, breathable fabric.”
Two or three layers of fabric that fit your face perfectly are better than a tight bandana or a DIY pattern left over from curtains.
Still, some experts suggest that more is more.
“There’s some suggestion that wearing a double mask, which you’re sure you saw a lot at the inauguration, may offer better protection,” Dr. Jennifer Ashton, chief medical correspondent at ABC News, told “Good Morning” this week. America “. “You have to balance it with being able to breathe.”
Dr. Michael Calderwood, an infectious disease doctor at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, said the most important thing is to follow the plan: constant use of masks.
“Increasing the number of masks, either by putting something on top of another mask or wearing N95 masks on another mask involves a large displacement of the masks, touching the mask, removing the mask and it will be counterproductive,” Calderwood said. .
An N95 mask filters 95% of airborne particles and, if worn properly, is the gold standard, but is not recommended for the average person as there is scarcity and includes some requirements to do -they work for them.
“N95s are respirators and are ‘tested for suitability’ for healthcare workers and are used in patients with COVID-19 for aerosol generation procedures. They can be uncomfortable if worn for long periods of time. of time, ”said Dr. Rachel Lee, an adjunct professor of Infectious Diseases at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
The key to choosing the right masks is to achieve a balance between comfort, fit and level of filtration.
“Wearing a proper mask with a proper fit has been effective so far 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 doesn’t fit properly, for example, if it’s loose on the nose, you’d better get a mask with a nose thread that helps seal it than an N95 mask.”
Joseph Allen, director of the Healthy Buildings program and associate professor at Harvard’s TH Chan School of Public Health, agrees with the CDC’s recommendations, but also said he should consider other risk factors, such as whether it is outdoors or indoors.
“If you’re going for a walk with a friend outside, a two-layer or three-layer mask is fine. If you’re an essential worker or you’re inside for long periods of time, then you’ll want to find a mask that has a higher level of protection, a minimum three – layer surgical mask “.
Mishal Reja, MD, is an incoming gastroenterology fellow at SUNY Downstate and a contributor to the ABC News Medical Unit.
Eric Strauss contributed to this report.