End of homemade masks, more contagious variants, complicated search for more protective masks… Faced with this series of difficulties, some have decided to wear two masks.
Experts, especially in the United States, recommend this Tuesday to wear two masks, superimposed.
Advice already followed by members of the government but also Joe Biden or Kamala Harris.
But is wearing two masks really more protective?
This is what the conclusions of a study of the largest start-up incubator in the United States, Matter, advanced in July 2020.
“Commercial surgical masks marketed for medical purposes had average particle removal efficiencies of 53% to 75% when worn as intended, but up to 90% when tight against the face under a diaper. nylon ”, a second mask.
Biden double masking - like many doctors do.
pic.twitter.com/E8nOZ4DCgm
- Khanoisseur 🐶🤦🏻♂️🌎 (@Khanoisseur) October 14, 2020
The study authors explained "that in general, surgical masks had a poor fit, that is, performance was greatly improved with the nylon cover layer."
The superposition of the surgical mask by a fabric mask would therefore allow, in addition to better filtering, better adjustment, in particular for those whose face size complicates the search for suitable masks.
In France, we don't believe it
Less than a month ago, in the journal Cell, two American researchers recommended to the general public “to wear a fabric mask on top of a surgical mask for maximum protection”.
What to ensure, according to them, a better fight against the spread of SARS-CoV-2 which we know passes from one person to another by fine droplets projected by the mouth while speaking, while breathing, while smoking or through the nose.
READ ALSO>
Covid-19: should you wear the mask at home?
But in France, the idea of wearing two masks has not yet emerged.
If we saw Jacques Attali have two masks on the set of Quotidien sur TMC, “double masking” still has few followers, especially on the side of specialists.
Didier Lepelletier, co-chair of the Covid-19 standing group of the High Council for Public Health, explained, a few days ago,
to the Parisian “that there is no scientific proof.
An article from 2005 says that masks should not be layered.
The recommendation is to wear a category 1 mask, validated and compliant.
"" Wearing two masks is of no interest ", answers Ouest-France, Véronique Merle, hygienist at the University Hospital of Rouen
Afnor advises against this practice
According to the French Association for Standardization (Afnor), interviewed by Le Parisien, “there is no concrete study on the effectiveness of the double mask”.
Morning essentials newsletter
A tour of the news to start the day
Subscribe to the newsletterAll newsletters
She even advises against wearing two masks on top of each other, for two reasons.
"Already, we see that the population is already having trouble wearing it well and using surgical masks which are already very protective," notes a spokesperson.
Many find it difficult not to touch it, to wash their hands with each manipulation, to position it from nose to chin… ”There is so much risk of being in contact with Covid-19.
READ ALSO>
Coronavirus: why wearing a mask is important
Afnor fears that with a second mask, these “errors” will be doubled.
"By wearing two masks, I also challenge you to speak with a loved one or colleague, to walk, to climb stairs ... This layer overlay poses breathability problems", continues Afnor.
For the association, there are more risks than expected benefits of wearing two masks.
Across the Atlantic, Linsey Marr, professor at Virginia Tech University who has studied diseases transmitted by air, says she "does not recommend wearing more than two masks" ... In the meantime, in the United States, we have been able to see Joe Biden, regularly accumulate during his campaign regularly an N 95 type mask (close to FFP2) and a surgical mask.
VIDEO. Covid-19: "I feel more protected with an FFP2 mask"