Health experts advise wearing double mask for added protection

If better alternatives are unavailable, health experts on Tuesday advised the public to wear a surgical mask beneath a cloth mask amid the threat of the more transmissible Omicron variant.

Dr. Edsel Salvana of the Department of Health-Technical Advisory Group said cloth masks alone are no longer sufficient due to the high viral load of Omicron.

“So at the very least surgical mask is in order. You can combine a surgical mask with a cloth mask to improve the fit. Pero hindi po ‘yung dalawang surgical mask,” Salvana said in a media forum.

(So at the very least, surgical mask is in order. You can combine a surgical mask with a cloth mask to improve the fit. But don’t wear two surgical masks.)

Salvana recommended the use of the KN95 or the N95.

The KN95 comes close to the filtration of the N95, which is used by medical professionals, and captures 95% of particles in the air. KN is the Chinese equivalent of the N95.

“Pero pati kami na mga doktor hirap kami huminga sa N95. At yung N95 does need some special fitting to maximize ‘yung kanyang effect. Otherwise, parang KN95 and if pangit talaga ‘yung fit parang surgical mask lang ‘yan,” he said.

(But even us doctors have trouble breathing with N95. And N95 does require some special fitting to maximize the effect. Otherwise, it’s just like KN95 or a surgical mask if it doesn't fit well.)

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended donning "the most protective mask you can.”

Salvana also advised the public to wear face shields and eye goggles as other layers of safety as well as to maintain physical distancing measures.

This was echoed by Dr. Anna Ong-Lim, another member of the DOH-TAG.

“Pwede magisip na magkaroon ng both eye, mouth, and nose protection to decrease the chances na makapsok ang virus. Pwede din gumamit ng medyo mas mataas ang filtration efficacy,” she said.

Ong-Lim also urged the public to consider double masking as an option.

“Para ‘yung ating issues with fit and making sure na naka seal ng maayos ‘yung mask ay ma-address natin… double masking can be an answer and it’s an option that is very doable for ordinary citizens,” she said.—LDF, GMA News