If You're Layering These Masks, the CDC Says to Stop Immediately
Masks have been encouraged since early in the pandemic to offer protection against the fast-spreading coronavirus. But as new variants of the virus started spreading at more alarming rates, people went looking for further ways to ensure that they were fully protected. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently updated their mask guidelines to endorse double masking, the idea that wearing two masks layered on top of each other better ensures protection against COVID. However, the CDC did make some stipulations in their updated guidelines. When it comes to layering your masks, there are some types of mask that shouldn't be used. Read on to find out which masks you can't double mask with, and for more essential mask guidance, If You See This on Your Mask, the FDA Says Toss It Immediately.To get more news about Quality Medical Mask, you can visit tnkme.com official website.
When layering masks, the CDC explicitly says you should not use two disposable masks. Why? It won't actually help protect you more. According to the CDC, "disposable masks are not designed to fit tightly and wearing more than one will not improve fit." For a mask to fit tightly, it must sit over your nose, under your chin, and against your cheeks without any gaps. And for more mask recommendations to heed, The CDC Warns Against Using These 6 Face Masks.
You can layer disposable masks with other masks, however. The CDC recommends people double mask by wearing one disposable mask underneath a cloth mask. When doing this, "the second mask should push the edges of the inner mask against your face," the agency explained. Earlier research has endorsed this particular order of layering as well.
A Jan. 21 study published in the journal Cell said that people should "wear a cloth mask tightly on top of a surgical mask where the surgical mask acts as a filter, and the cloth mask provides an additional layer of filtration while improving the fit." As long as both these masks fit well, the researchers found that this could stop the spread of the coronavirus with more than a 90 percent efficacy. At the same time, the researchers clarified that reversing this mask order could change the fit and make it less effective. And for more ways your mask may not be as protective, If Your Mask Doesn't Have These 4 Things, Get a New One, Doctor Says.
The CDC also warns against double masking with KN95 masks. According to the agency, you should not combine a KN95 mask with any other mask, nor should you layer another KN95 mask on top of a KN95 mask. Best Life reached out to the CDC for further explanation on this stipulation, but has not yet received a response. And for more coronavirus news, The CDC Says You Don't Have to Do This Anymore Once You're Vaccinated.
Paul Hickey, president of PuraVita Medical, a company that manufactures KN95 masks, said layering KN95 masks could be dangerous. "KN95 masks are designed to be a respirator," he said. "A respirator is designed to create an airtight seal around your face so you only breathe air that comes in through the respirator material and the air you breathe out only goes through the respirator material. Because of this, if you double layer a KN95 respirator or an N95 respirator you will have a difficult time breathing and so yes, it could be dangerous. Respirators are designed to only be one layer and not double stacked."
