With the emergence of several new COVID-19 variants that are reported to be more easily transmitted than the novel coronavirus strain that caused the pandemic, many people are wondering whether they should be doubling up on their masks.

UB infectious disease experts Thomas Russo and John Sellick weighed in on the topic recently, providing answers to some frequently asked questions for UB’s COVID-19 planning and response website.

Russo is chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases in the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, and Sellick is a professor of medicine and member of the division in the Jacobs School. They are members of the committee charged with developing UB’s comprehensive health guidelines in response to the pandemic. Russo and Sellick shared their responses, which are based on the latest science and recommendations from health experts, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with UBNow.

The physicians also note that it’s important, even for people who’ve already received the COVID-19 vaccine, to continue to follow the health and safety measures that have been ingrained in everyone for the past year now: wear a mask, wash your hands frequently and practice physical distancing.

Whether or not two masks are better than one depends on the type and the fit of the mask you are using.

• Experimental data show that for lower-quality masks, double-masking may improve performance.
• If you have a single or double-layered cloth mask, then double-masking may provide better protection than just one mask. For example, wear a surgical mask underneath, with a cloth mask on top.
• If you are wearing a surgical mask but there are gaps on the sides of your face, use of a second, well-fitting cloth mask on top of it may improve protection.
• A single N95 or KN95 mask, or a triple-layered cloth mask with a middle filter layer that fits correctly, should be sufficient to protect against the transmission of the novel coronavirus. N95 respirators with exhaust valves do not prevent the spread of the virus in the event you are infected, and therefore are not acceptable for use.

• At present, there are no “real world” studies on whether or not double-masking is more effective than a single, well-fitting mask in preventing transmission of the virus or the new strains.
• When in doubt about the quality or fit of your mask, there is no downside to double-masking as long as the mask combination is comfortable and does not discourage you from wearing them.

The best masks for those of us who are not health care workers are:

• An N95 or KN95 mask that fits correctly.
• A cloth mask that consists of a filter sandwiched between two layers of dense fabric and fits correctly.
• A surgical mask that fits correctly without gaps.
• A surgical mask with a cloth mask on top of it if are you are concerned about the quality and/or fit of the first layer.

Bottom line: There is no harm in wearing, for example, a cloth mask on top of a surgical mask. This is true especially if the surgical mask has gaps and the cloth layer helps press down and eliminate those gaps.

Gaiters or bandanas are not considered optimal for masking. They should not be used if at all possible. However, wearing a lower-quality mask, albeit far from ideal, is still better than not wearing a mask at all.

• Health care settings, including hospitals and doctors’ offices, often require that anyone entering these facilities must wear masks that they provide. In these situations, it is necessary to abide by the facility’s mask requirements.
• Cloth masks are not considered acceptable in health care settings.

This CDC site provides excellent information on proper mask-wearing. UB will also be working with the WNY Vaccination Hub to consistently update the public through the UB vaccine website with the latest information on how to stay safe.