Double masking for Covid-19: know how to wear them, best practices

The second wave of Covid-19 is wreaking havoc across the country. In such a situation, the government and health experts have advised people to stay safe at home, wear masks and follow social distancing. Meanwhile, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has made a new revelation about mask-wearing. CDC experts say that wearing two masks instead of one mask is more effective.

The practice, which is called double masking, is more than 90 per cent effective in preventing droplets of the infection from going into the body.

In this video, we will understand what is double masking, how to wear two masks together and when do you need to double mask.

First of all, what is double masking?

Double masking means wearing two masks together, one of which is a surgical mask and the other is a mask made with ordinary cloth. You can also pair two cloth masks together.

Why do you need to double mask?

The CDC study found that masks are most effective at preventing coronavirus spread when they can fit tightly on your face. Without a knot, the surgical mask can prevent up to 56.1 per cent of particles whereas the cloth mask alone can prevent about 51.4 per cent of particles, as per the study. In this case, a knotted and tied surgical mask and a cloth mask, when worn together are up to 85.4 per cent effective in preventing particles.

What to do after double masking?

After wearing a double mask, walk around a little bit to check if you have any trouble breathing. If you find it hard to breathe, do not wear a double mask.

What not to do when double masking?

• Do not wear two surgical masks on top of each other
• Do not wear any other mask over an N95 mask

When should you double mask?

• Going out of the house
• Going to the doctor
• Travelling
• Going to crowded place

Disclaimer: editorji does not provide medical advice. The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images and other material contained in this story are for informational purposes only. No material in this video is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have related to Covid-19.