Are you/will you be double-masking?

I’m not sure yet. I haven’t heard whether the vaccine works against the new variants.
I honestly was hoping that after I get my second shot on Friday, after waiting a couple of weeks, I’d be immune. I certainly wasn’t going to stop wearing my mask and washing my hands, but I was hoping I wouldn’t be as stressed out.

Yes, absolutely. I have started wearing a disposable mask under a cloth mask. I didn’t while out of town for the weekend because it is logistically more difficult, as well as a bit more difficult to breathe on exertion. But under normal circumstances, I am double-masking.

I only leave the house about once a week (for a very short time, usually to bring the kids to a park), so I am looking into whether I can re-use the disposable mask. I don’t have an answer about that yet.

I do spray both masks with 70% alcohol when taking them off, especially if I will put them back on again.

To be clear, I wash my cloth masks each day I wear them, but might put it on and off a few times (especially if shopping) in one day.

I’ve been usually using a paper napkin and/or coffee filter under a cloth mask all along, though I don’t know how much that helps.

@Zaku, the coffee filter is excellent, non-woven but gas permeable, and really, a couple of layers of paper napkin, if not too flimsy, are good too, for the same reason.

Probably not. I do have some masks that have a place for an extra filter, but I haven’t used it although I do have the extra strong blue paper towels for it.

I do sometimes wear a mask and a shield at the same time when I feel I am in a higher risk situation. When I go to the doctor I usually do this. I should do it in my post office, because there is always a no-masker in there, and it is a mini small room.

I have some KN95 masks that are supposed to be better for self protection.

My personal opinion is if everyone wears a mask then that is the ideal, rather than double masks for some and no masks on others.

I just saw on TV this morning someone (some medical professional, I can’t remember which one, but one of the respected ones often on TV) say that double mask can run the risk of more air escaping from the sides because the air does not flow enough through the mask.

I am rarely in very high risk situations for extended periods luckily.

We are now required to wear medical masks (as in, surgical or N95) in all public places. Since that meant buying some, I went ahead and got the N95 ones. I feel confident enough that those will protect me (especially since almost everyone else is wearing them too), so I haven’t doubled up yet.

We use them once, then let them hang for a week.

Like @chyna, I’m on my way to being vaccinated and not going out much. If I’m going into the supermarket, I’ll probably put a coffee filter into one of my cloth masks which I haven’t been doing. Two weeks after my second shot, I’ll definitely still wear the mask but I probably won’t worry about the filter..

Nope.

@canidmajor Oh, ok, good to hear. Thanks.

@chyna I did read in the UK where they say the vaccine is effective with at least one variant.

A single mask (even an N95) not fitted by a medical expert will leak. Try putting on a mask and breath with glasses on and watch them fog up. The fog is caused by a huge mask border gap.

I wear N95 masks that I keep well fitted so that’s good enough for me. If double mask wearing becomes mandatory then I’ll wear 2.

I will try next time I go shopping. Edit. My news says that double masking only good with reusable cloth masks with disposable ones. So no. Not untill I get better masks.

I have been all along since I make my own. I always include a pocket inside for a coffee filter, and wear a disposable underneath.

@gondwanalon The N95 protects you, but doesn’t protect others, is that right? I want to make sure I understand those masks.

Definitely will double mask. But only when outside doing errands.

I have the luxury of hanging out at home until we see what the next wave brings.

@JLeslie I had that same misconception. There are N95 masks that only protect the wearer. Those have one-way exhalation valves. They’re more comfortable, but you will only be protecting yourself (not cool). So, just get some without valves if you want to make the switch. For what it’s worth, mine fit really well and I’m still breathing okay.

@longgone I don’t have any N95’s, but I do have KN95’s, which protect both directions. I mostly wear cloth masks.

@JLeslie it’s my experience that the N95 mask functions better protecting me than protecting others. Because when I inhale the mask edges remain sealed against my face but when I exhale (especially forcefully) my breath escapes outside the edges of my N95 mask unfiltered.

I’ll wear two if it seems useful. I did get better masks, N95, (better than cloth, better sealed and better filtering). If I’m on public transportation I wear a better mask and a face shield.

SARS-CoV-2 size range from 0.07 to 0.09 microns.
The N95 mask can filter particles from 0.1 to 0.3 microns in size and larger.

Good thing that the SARS-CoV-2 usually goes around attached to some other substances that make it larger and easier for masks to trap.

I had to go to a few grocery stores today and I double masked. I have two cloth masks that fit fairly snugly under my chin and I was able to fit one under the other. I don’t know that I’ll do it for outside stuff.

On the news, they said the best way is to wear the paper mask (with the wire) underneath a cloth mask. Make sure to pinch the wire around the bridge of your nose.