Experts recommend using a double mask in the face of new variants of COVID-19

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Experts from the US health sector indicated that better masks stop the most communicable variants of COVID-19

The discovery of new highly communicable COVID-19 variants in the United States and other countries has led public health experts to call for strengthening measures on the use of face masks, basic protection during the pandemic.

According to medical sources consulted by The Washington Post, the best chance may be to put a second mask over the one you already wear, or better yet, to put a cloth mask on top of a surgical one.

In the United States, experts say it is time to buy the highest quality KN95 or N95 masks, even though officials had originally suggested that these supplies be specifically targeted at healthcare workers.

In countries like Singapore and South Korea there are high-quality masks mass-produced to ship directly to their inhabitants.

In recent weeks, European countries have begun requiring medical-grade masks in public settings in the face of outbreaks of the British strain of SARS-CoV-2.

“The existence of more communicable viruses underscores the importance of us improving our game and not doing more of the same, but something better,” said Tom Frieden, former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Frieden urged people to wear higher quality masks.

Anthony Fauci, America’s leading infectious disease expert, touted the use of double masks during an appearance Monday on the “Today” show, saying that two masks are common sense and would likely be more effective.

Linsey Marr, an engineering professor at Virginia Tech, also supports the idea and says that the best protection can be obtained by wearing a tight-fitting cloth mask over a surgical mask.

“Standard cloth face masks can be around 50 percent effective in terms of protection, that was good enough before when combined with distancing and trying to avoid being in crowded indoor spaces,” she said.

Source: Diario de Colima

Mexico Daily Post