Dr. Anthony Fauci suggests double-masking is a logical way to curb the spread of the coronavirus, The New York Post reports.
Two face masks are better than one, the infectious diseases specialist said Monday.
“If you have a physical covering with one layer, you put another layer on, it just makes common sense that it likely would be more effective,” Fauci said on the “Today” show.
The purpose of a mask is to prevent respiratory droplets and the virus from reaching a person’s mouth and nose, the White House adviser explained, so increasing the barriers naturally increases protection.
Dr. Martin Cohen, of the University of Washington’s Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, previously told The Post: “If your first line of protection is not significant, like a scarf, you can put on another layer.”
“Obviously, the more layers you have of fibers between one person’s mouth and the other’s, there is less risk of spreading infection,” Cohen said.
“The idea is that it should be snugly fit without making you uncomfortable.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention currently recommends that people wear masks that have “two or more layers of washable, breathable fabric.”