The U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said on Wednesday that making sure a mask fits snugly on the face and use of two masks is likely to significantly reduce a person’s exposure to the coronavirus.
The CDC said they conducted experiments in January to see how well wearing a cloth mask over a three-ply medical procedure mask, and knotting the ear loops of a surgical mask and then tucking the excess material close to the face, protects against COVID-19. They found that both these methods helped reduce the exposure to potentially infected aerosols by more than 90% in laboratory simulations.
CDC Director Rochelle Walensky told reporters the experiments highlight that “masks work, and they work best when they have a good fit and are worn correctly.” Walesnky added that re-useable devices known as mask-fitters were also an option to improve a mask’s fit.
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