Covid-19: French doctors against wearing two masks

The US President Joe Biden can often be seen wearing two masks. Now US national health institute the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has published a report in support of this, but French health experts and a standards organisation disagree.

The CDC report, released yesterday (February 10), suggests people wear two masks, a cloth mask over a medical procedure masks, bringing protection against Covid up to 92.5%.

Didier Lepelletier, the co-president of the Haut Conseil de la santé publique’s permanent Covid-19 group, told Le Parisien newspaper that there is “no scientific proof” for wearing two masks.

Véronique Merle, a doctor at a medical university in Rouen (CHU Rouen) and public health specialist, agreed. "There is no interest in wearing two masks,” she said.

The French standards organisation Afnor (Association française de normalisation) also does not recommend double masking.

“Wearing two masks layer on layer can improve filtration if the fabrics are different,” the association notes on its website.

“On the other hand, this will certainly pose a problem of breathability, making it difficult to support wearing the masks during a discussion or while walking quickly, etc.”

“By wearing two masks, the person runs the risk of having to take it off, out of discomfort, without being able to wash their hands, or to put on a new one, thus exposing themselves to the risk of contamination.”

Afnor recommends everyone should wear masks that guarantee at least 90% filtration of 3 micron particles. This includes category 1 fabric masks and surgical masks.

Read our guide on what masks to wear in France here

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