Double Masking For Covid-19: Is It Really Effective?
With the cases of coronavirus being on a steady uprise, there are various Covid-19 prevention tips circling around social media. One of the more popular ones being, sporting a double mask can vastly reduce the chances of a person being infected by SARS-CoV-2, the new virus that causes the illness. But is it actually true? Read on to find out.
Before diving into the topic of whether double masking is effective, you need to understand the different types of masks available and then make an informed decision. Here are some of the variants available in the market:
- Cloth Masks
- Surgical Masks
- KN95 Masks
What is Double Masking?
Simply put, double masking refers to a practice where you layer one mask on top of another. Now while this can seem a bit restrictive it does actually have few benefits:
Better Fit
Consider this, you already are wearing a mask whenever you step outdoors. However, chances are that your current mask may not fit as tightly or snugly as you would want it to. In fact, you might’ve observed air escaping from the sides of the face masks when you breathe. Although not a major deterrent, the gap present can lead to the virus contaminants entering your mouth rendering the entire practice of wearing a mask futile.
In such times, having another mask on top of your regular one can prevent this from happening. The two masks apply gentle pressure on your face, sealing it completely. Having said that, there are studies that have shown that if you’re wearing multilayered masks, there is no particular need of sporting another mask on top of it.
Increased Filtration
It’s only logical that the added mask would increase the filtration power. The Covid-19 virus is spread through respiratory droplets when an infected person:
• Talks
• Coughs
• Sneezes
However, with the added protection of double masks, the respiratory droplets containing the virus is thoroughly filtered before you inhale them. The simple logic behind this practice being, the droplets containing the virus have to pass through double layers before they can reach your mouth or nose. However, experts have also cautioned about the cons of double masking. One of them being, that since people are wearing double masks, they get a bit relaxed and opt for ones of low quality. This can in turn have catastrophic effects.
Tips to Double Mask Effectively
So, if you’re planning to double mask (which we absolutely recommend you to do) ensure that you go for masks that are of superior quality. Here are some tips to help you get started:
- CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) recommends that you layer a cloth mask over a surgical one for the best effects.
- Avoid going for these mask combinations as they can have detrimental effects on your health:
a) Two Surgical Masks
b) an N95 and any other type of mask
We hope that this blog helped you gain some clarity on the concept of double masking and how it can be of use to you. Keep following Dermawear for more such articles.