Fauci: Double-masking ‘just makes common sense’

The nation’s top infectious diseases expert, Anthony Fauci, said in an interview on NBC’s “Today” that wearing two masks “just makes common sense.”

“Today’s” Savannah Guthrie asked Fauci if double-masking was advisable or made a difference, to which he responded “it likely does.”

“I mean, this is a physical covering to prevent droplets and virus to get in. So if you have a physical covering with one layer, and you put another layer on, it just makes common sense that it likely would be more effective,” Fauci said. 

“We don’t want to get complacent.”

Watch @SavannahGuthrie’s full interview with Dr. Anthony Fauci on vaccine shortages, new coronavirus strains and what comes next. pic.twitter.com/15plEBZ5e1

— TODAY (@TODAYshow) January 25, 2021

Masks have been required in nearly all public places and businesses since the coronavirus pandemic began in March, but not many have been double-masking. 

The interview also touched on the effectiveness of vaccines, which Fauci also discussed in an interview with CBS Sunday Morning. 

Fauci reiterated that the vaccine is strong enough to handle all the current mutations of the coronavirus, but they are ready to adapt the vaccine if needed.

Fauci is most concerned about the South African variant, because that strain of the virus can affect the efficacy of the vaccine. 

Millions of people have already been vaccinated with two shots from Moderna or Pfizer. New guidelines have made it so in special cases a patient can get their first shot from one company and the second from another company. 

The United States recently surpassed 420,000 coronavirus deaths and is leading the world in coronavirus cases. Fauci is confident that President Biden’s plan to issue 100 million shots in his first 100 days is possible.