With the arrival of new and more aggressive mutations of the coronavirus, wearing a mask has never been more vital.
And just when you thought one was enough, it seems that now you might need to double up just to be safe. But why?
Five Things You Need to Know
- Dr. Anthony Fauci and many other leading experts are saying a second layer — a double mask — makes sense, as two masks can block around 70% of the droplets that carry the virus. While N95 masks, as their name suggests, can filter even higher —up to around 97% — it’s not true for some homemade masks that researchers found sometimes only filtered as little as 1%. Yikes!
- More layers mean more threads in the way of the coronavirus particles. And tests have shown that by making a mask out of quilter’s cotton with a thread count of 180 and above creates far better layers that stop the virus reaching our respiratory system — increasing the filtration and stopping-power of the mask. Imagine if you were to double up several slices of Swiss cheese, more layers make it harder for something to get through the holes.
- It’s also about how well the mask fits. If your nose is poking over the top, well then, you’re leaving yourself open to infection or infecting others. It’s all about the layers that can also help it fit snuggly. It's best to go with masks with dense thread cotton if you can, three layers if possible. The key is quality and fit. For those who are frazzled with the whole mask advice thing, it’s important to remember that just like the virus is evolving, the way we battle it with science is constantly evolving too.
- The main thing to remember is that the masks won’t stop everything and they aren’t a substitute for social distancing or hand washing, but all three of these combined will keep you the safest you can possibly be, especially against the new and more robust versions of the coronavirus.
- Masks can block about 60% of the virus that comes out of an infected person, rising to 70% protection if you’re both wearing one. So it makes sense. Just because you can’t see it, that doesn’t mean it’s not real! And also if you’re vaccinated, that doesn’t mean you stop wearing a mask. There’s just not enough data to suggest it’s safe to walk around without one yet, and let’s — excuse the pun — face it: It’s better to take precautions than wish you’d worn a double mask from a hospital bed.