Can Neck Gaiters Protect You From COVID-19 Virus As Well As Face Masks?
Image via Shutterstock
Since the coronavirus pandemic struck, face coverings have become the new norm for people to wear and protect themselves from the virus spread.
People have started complaining about the discomfort, as well as the pain and skin irritation behind their ears due to the mask straps, so they have started to seek alternatives to the traditional face masks.
The neck gaiter is one of them. It is a wide tube of fabric worn around the neck that can be pulled up or down to cover and uncover the mouth and nose accordingly.
However, the question now is how effective these neck gaiters might be in protecting you from viral transmission.
Well, experts say that they will likely work when fitted snugly and worn properly, which is over the mouth and nose, per USA Today.
Jason Kessler, MD, section chief of Infectious Disease at Atlantic Health System’s Morristown Medical Center in New Jersey, told USA Today that face coverings, including gaiters, “likely provide some benefit… [in reducing] the spread of respiratory droplets from an infected person to the area surrounding that individual.”
But when it comes to comparing it with traditional face masks, Kessler pointed out that there aren’t any studies proving the better of the two yet.
Face coverings are most effective when they are tightly-fitted as they have better aerosol filtration, according to Emily Sickbert-Bennett, PhD, director of Infection Prevention at UNC Hospitals in North Carolina.
The most important thing to do is for people to find a mask that is comfortable and wear it whenever in public, as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
For more information, head on over to USA Today.
[via USA Today, cover image via Shutterstock]
Also check out these recent news
