The CDC Says Tight-Fit Masks or Double Masking Increases Protection

[BigmanPigman]

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/10/world/double-mask-protection-cdc.html

"Virus-related deaths, which resurged sharply in the United States in November and still remain high, appear to be in a steady decline; new virus cases and hospitalizations began to drop last month. But researchers warn that a more contagious virus variant first found in Britain is doubling roughly every 10 days in the United States. The C.D.C. cautioned last month that it could become the dominant variant in the nation by March."
"One option for reducing transmission is to wear a cloth mask over a surgical mask, the agency said. The alternative is to fit the surgical mask more tightly on the face by “knotting and tucking” — that is, knotting the two strands of the ear loops together where they attach to the edge of the mask, then folding and flattening the extra fabric at the mask’s edge and tucking it in for a tighter seal."
"Other effective options that improve the fit include using a mask-fitter — a frame contoured to the face — over a mask, or wearing a sleeve of sheer nylon hosiery material around the neck and pulled up over a cloth or surgical mask, the C.D.C. said."

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/10/30/science/wear-mask-covid-particles-ul.html

[Siwsan]

1. I just bought a box of 50 disposable masks so I can start wearing one over my cloth mask

I also keep spare disposable masks in my car and at home. They came in handy when I had my water softener replaced. The plumber was putting on his mask as he was walking up to the house and the strap snapped. He was most thankful I was able to hand him a replacement.

[BigmanPigman]

3. Don't forget that nylon panty hose increases protection by 50%.

"Then, to improve the fit and close any gaps, she wrapped an outer layer of nylon pantyhose cutouts around the masks. The masks now filtered up to 50 percent more effectively."

https://hartfordhealthcare.org/about-us/news-press/news-detail?articleid=25720&publicId=395

[Siwsan]

5. Wow!

I'll have to see if I can find some of those unopened knee highs I bought for my aunt. If I can't find them - Dollar Tree, here I come!
(I make my own cloth masks.)

[Freethinker65]

2. I use a surgical as the filter between my two ply cloth masks. Been working retail since October.

No COVID yet. Neither have any of my coworkers. Waiting for vaccination.

[Irish_Dem]

4. I have been wearing two disposable masks for some time.

I cannot wear the cloth ones.

[quickesst]

6. know what's sad to watch?

Watching people who's mask keeps falling down off of their nose because they are too dense to make use of the metal strip that secures the mask. Whenever I go out, I make sure I use the metal strip to secure, and seal my mask. For it to fall down below my nose I would have to physically reach up and pull it down.

[BigmanPigman]

7. I am still reusing the 5 N95 masks I got from my sister

last March. I have a small head and those masks are even tight on my head. I press the metal strip securely so that my glasses don't steam up as well as better protection. Since I only go out once a week I should be able to reuse them until Biden has millions made for the US population.

[quickesst]

8. I too see no reason....

... why quality masks cannot be reused. You would think people would be able to figure out the purpose of the metal strip quite easily. Whenever I see someone who's mask continually slips down below their nose, you can just look and tell that the metal strip has been completely ignored.

[BigmanPigman]

9. Often the masks don't even have a metal strip.

What is the point of even wearing one that is only 50% effective? If I am going to wear a mask at all than it should be the most protective as possible. I wish the production of genuine N95s would increase a lot more. If everyone wore them than we would have 95% protection, even more than some of the vaccines out there.

[quickesst]

10. Agree with everything you said

Unfortunately, even with the safest masks possible, we would still have to contend with the willfully ignorant who refuse to wear them. It is a fairly large number.