Masks should fit better or be doubled up to protect against coronavirus, CDC says

CDC is asking Americans wear a disposable surgical mask, with a cloth mask over top of it, to protect against more transmissible strains of coronavirus. As an alternative to doubling up, an agency report and updated guidance suggest tightening the fit of surgical masks to prevent air from escaping around the edges. Both tactics, the federal officials say, reduced exposure to potentially infectious aerosols by more than 95% on tests using mannequins. The new recommendations underscore the importance of masks in combating coronavirus, despite mixed messages early in the pandemic. CDC Director Rochelle Walensky, MD, notes there is now a better understanding of the virus. “The science is clear,” she says. “Everyone needs to be wearing a mask when they’re in public or when they are in their own home but with people who do not live in their household. This is especially true with our ongoing concern about new variants spreading in the United States.” Public health experts say the key is a tight fit to reduce exposure to and transmission of tiny infectious particles. Because different people require different solutions, CDC’s web site illustrates a number of options for keeping masks close to the face.