BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — With the new U.K. variant of COVID-19 now in the United States, a doctor at Brigham and Women’s Hospital said it might be a good idea to wear two masks.
Experts say the new variant could be more contagious and more deadly.
Dr. Paul Sax is the clinical director of the Infectious Disease Clinic at Brigham and Women’s. He told WBZ NewsRadio that, right now, there is concern over people using thin cloths as face coverings — anything ranging from a light t-shirt material to a bandana to a gaiter.
“The gaiters are probably the least advisable strategy at this point,” Dr. Sax said.
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According to Dr. Sax, there are now plenty of options to choose from when it comes to face coverings.
“We now have, actually, quite a good supply of surgical quality masks for available for purchase online,” he said.
However, to combat the cost, Dr. Sax said experts “would like to see, perhaps, a government subsidy or some way of having free masks available for the public.”
Dr. Sax said that two masks are better than one if you only have access to a thin face covering.
“Doubling up does seem to make [it] harder for the virus to get through than it would be if you just used a thin-cloth mask,” he said.
WBZ NewsRadio's Jim MacKay (@JimMacKayOnAir) reports
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(Photo: Courtesy of Brigham and Women's Hospital)