As new mutant strains of COVID-19 surface, medical experts are now recommending double-masking, or wearing two face masks at once, as a means of boosting your chances of protection against the virus. For maximal protection, you can wear a cloth mask tightly on top of a surgical mask where the surgical mask acts as a filter and the cloth mask provides an additional layer of filtration while improving the fit. If the masks fit well, these combinations should produce an overall efficiency of over 90% for particles 1 μm (micrometer) and larger, which is essential in mediating transmission of the virus. While COVID-19 cases appear to be on the decline, these new variants of the virus, or more commonly the UK, Spanish, Brazilin, and South African variant have a higher rate of transmission and infection. Although the nation's top infectious disease expert, Dr. Fauci, said double-masking is "common sense," the CDC hasn't explicitly recommended double-masking. However, the CDC does stress the importance of wearing masks made from breathable, tightly woven fabrics and two or three layers or with pockets for filters. Experts say that not every situation warrants doubling up on masks, which could prove uncomfortable for some people. Pairing a cloth face mask with a surgical mask when heading to the grocery store is necessary, but one mask (surgical or cloth) works at home or when taking a walk outside. As for children, experts say one properly and well fitted mask is more important than double-masking. Children are considerably less at risk for severe COVID-19 than adults and colorful cloth masks can help with compliance.