Does wearing two masks help prevent COVID-19 even more? Dr. Anthony Fauci believes so.
What’s going on?
Dr. Anthony Fauci told NBC News’ “Today” show on Monday that double-masking “likely does” protect people more.
- “So if you have a physical covering with one layer, you put another layer on, it just makes common sense that it likely would be more effective,” Fauci told the “Today” show. “That’s the reason why you see people either double masking or doing a version of an N95.”
Bigger picture
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has not recommended double masking.
- However, there have been cases where people have worn two masks. For example, poet Amanda Gorman and Pete Buttigieg, who is Biden’s nominee to run the Transportation Department, wore two masks during President Joe Biden’s inauguration, according to CNBC.
Neysa Ernst from Johns Hopkins University told Fox News that there could be psychological benefits, too.
- “In this pandemic psychological safety is important, it provides a sense of control in an unknown environment,” Ernst wrote.