The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has updated their stance on wearing two masks, saying it can be better than one in protecting against COVID-19, but there are some specifics.
The CDC released their findings Wednesday.
This study was specific to combining a snug fitting cloth mask over a surgical mask, a technique demonstrated by National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) director Dr. Anthony Fauci back in January.
Using simulated coughs and breathing in a laboratory setting, researchers discovered that double-masking blocked more aerosol particles, improving mask performance by about 50 percent. They also found ways to wear masks to improve their effectiveness against the novel coronavirus.
The CDC updated their websitewith the new mask-wearing guidance as well.
Wednesday, CDC director Rochelle Walensky reiterated the importance of at least wearing one mask, in a briefing from the White House COVID-19 Response Team.
"In the study, wearing any type of mask performed significantly better than not wearing a mask," said Walensky.