As Virus Variants Emerge, It’s Time To Double Up On Masks

ACROSS AMERICA — The United States is more than 10 months into the coronavirus pandemic, and Americans have likely heard all dos and don'ts of mask-wearing — why to wear, what to wear, how to wear, who wore it best.

Yet just when we think we’ve learned everything we possibly can about masks, three highly transmissible coronavirus variants have now been confirmed in the United States.

The first variant, which originated in the United Kingdom a month ago, now has more than 300 confirmed cases in 30 states, according to data compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Two additional variants, from South Africa and Brazil, have also been confirmed in states.

While it’s in a virus’s nature to mutate, scientists are scrambling to understand these three variants and how they work. Many signs indicate the three variants could be more transmissible than others, though scientists still aren’t exactly sure why.

Regardless, different times call for different measures.

“The existence of more-transmissible viruses emphasizes the importance of us upping our game and doing not more of the same but better of the same,” Tom Frieden, former director of the CDC, told The Washington Post.

Fortunately, the latest analyses show that current coronavirus vaccines remain mostly effective against the new variants; however, the vaccine is still weeks or months away for many Americans. In the meantime, it’s critical to take steps to protect yourself.

Here are five suggestions for getting the most out of your masks in the coming weeks:

1) Mask up — times two.

First, it goes without saying, but we'll say it anyway: If you’re going to be within 6 feet of someone from outside your household, you should wear a mask, especially if you are indoors.

But right now, if you’re going to be indoors or at more-crowded outdoor events, it’s less about remembering to wear your mask and more about committing to wear your masks.

While the idea of wearing a mask on top of a mask seems less than ideal, this change can be as simple as slipping a surgical mask underneath the fabric or cloth mask you already wear.

Since surgical masks filter well but do not fit well, a cloth mask on top of a surgical mask — especially, a cloth mask that ties around the back of your head — can secure the surgical mask to your face, making the whole thing fit better.

Another suggestion is to invest in a cloth mask with a layer of filter material in the middle.

Should you double up on cloth masks? Probably not, experts say. If you do, you’ll likely wind up with too many layers that make it difficult to breathe.

The most important thing is to make sure your masks fit properly. You can use a mask fitter to check, which is a custom-printed frame that sits around your mouth and ties behind your head, pinning the mask to your face.

2) You probably don’t have an N95 mask, but if you do, wear it.

Historically, N95 masks have not been readily available to the general public, yet they still remain our best line of defense against the spread of the coronavirus.

The N95 is a tight-fitting mask that reduces the wearer’s exposure to particles including small particle aerosols and large droplets. N95 masks are proven to filter out at least 95 percent of airborne particles, including large and small particles, according to the CDC.

N95 masks throughout the pandemic have mostly been reserved for health care workers. Despite the mask's effectiveness, public health experts have warned against the wearing of N95 masks by the general public.

What’s that?

New CDC Director Rochelle Walensky explained the warning at a town hall meeting this week: N95 masks are uncomfortable to wear, and that may dissuade consistent use if recommended to the general public.

Also sometimes referred to as N95 respirators, one should be careful not to confuse these with KN95 masks, which have a similar name but are held to entirely different standards.

The main difference lies in how the masks are certified.

“N95 is the U.S. standard, and the KN95 is the China standard,” Sean Kelly, founder of New Jersey-based PPE of America, told Rolling Stone. “Because of this, only N95 masks are approved for health-care use in the United States, even though KN95 masks have many of the same protective properties.”

It’s important to note that the certifications mentioned above only refer to the country in which the standards and regulations were created, not where the masks are made. Most N95 masks are still made in China.

The CDC has also authorized the use of KN95 masks as a suitable alternative to N95 masks.

3) Snowy, wintry weather can change the efficacy of your mask.

It’s winter in the United States, and with winter comes changed weather. And while scarves, ski masks and balaclavas may provide a barrier against a frigid wind, they aren't designed to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

Neoprene ski masks typically don't cover your nostrils and have dozens of small holes across the mouth to make it easier to breath. Balaclavas come in a variety of designs but often don't cover the mouth or nose, and they are usually made of a single cloth layer. Scarves may also be a single layer of fabric and aren't necessarily worn over the mouth and nose.

You don’t have to skip wearing the cozy scarves and wraps, though — just be sure to wear a mask underneath.

Also, winter brings snow, and snow brings wet, sloppy weather. So what happens if your mask gets wet?

Believe it or not, a wet mask is not just harder to breathe through — it’s also less efficient at filtering and vents more around the edges of the mask.

As a result, the CDC recommends we keep a spare mask handy to replace the one we’re wearing should it become wet with moisture from snow or rain. Once you’re wearing the new mask, put your old one in a plastic bag until you can get home and wash it.

4) Speaking of washing your mask, do it every day.

If your mask is wet or dirty from sweat, saliva, makeup, last night’s wine, or other liquids or substances, the CDC recommends keeping it in a sealed plastic bag until you can wash it. If your mask isn’t soiled, it should be washed no less than once per day.

The CDC also advises washing wet or dirty masks as soon as possible to prevent them from becoming moldy. As we mentioned before, masks can be hard to breathe through and are less effective than dry masks.

Washing your mask is a lot like washing your everyday laundry — use regular laundry detergent and wash according to fabric instructions. If washing by hand, use tap water and laundry detergent or soap. You can dry your mask in a dryer or let it air dry.

5) Finally, remember to pull the mask over your goldarned nose.

We can’t believe we still have to say this, but most of us breathe out of more than just our mouths. This means your mask needs to cover more than your mouth — it needs to cover your nose, too.

While it’s not scientifically proven that mask slippage happens more often among men than women, James Gorman for The New York Times took an interesting look at who bares their noses the most.

Yup. We’re looking at you, men.

At President Joe Biden’s inauguration, former President Bill Clinton was perhaps the most notable offender, his mask riding far below his nose for most of the event. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts’ nose poked out at various points, and even former President Barack Obama had a small slip.

While the author notes that of course women have mask slippage issues, he (yes, the author is male) notices it far more often in men.

“It’s not all men, of course,” Gorman writes. “But then, not all men take up two or three subway seats. Something about some men seems to make it difficult to keep that mask where it should be."

Is it because their noses are bigger? Do they need more air to breathe?

Is manslipping the new manspreading?

You be the judge.