Dr. Anthony Fauci speaks to Congress on Sept. 23, 2020.
In this Sept. 23, 2020 file photo, Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health, listens during a Senate Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee Hearing on the federal government response to COVID-19 Capitol Hill in Washington. Graeme Jennings, pool via AP
Herb Scribner
By Herb Scribner

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.”
Related
Dr. Fauci says second COVID-19 vaccine shot knocked him out for 24 hours

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.
Related
The U.S. could return to normal by fall, Dr. Fauci says
View Comments

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.
Join the Conversation
Looking for comments?
Find comments in their new home! Click the buttons at the top or within the article to view them — or use the button below for quick access.