Double-Masking May Help Decrease COVID-19 Spread

With more than 2 million deaths attributed to COVID-19 across the world, public health officials are desperate to reduce the spread of the novel coronavirus while increasing vaccination rates. Some health experts have suggested that wearing two masks may be better than one. The fibers that make up a mask hinder the virus’ ability to enter the airway. For someone wearing a thin mask without a lot of protective fibers, the addition of another mask may make all the difference. Research by Linsey Marr, PhD, at Virginia Tech shows that wearing two surgical or cloth masks on top of one another can provide similar protection to the gold standard, the N95 mask, which is prioritized for healthcare providers, including oral health professionals. Click here to read more.