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By Dr. Brian McDonough, Medical Editor
PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Few will argue that masks are highly effective at fighting COVID-19, but scientists are taking a closer look at how they work.
As we wait for wider distribution of vaccines on the path to herd immunity, scientists are looking more closely at maximizing the effectiveness of masks.
Scientists know that respiratory viruses like the coronavirus, which have been shown to move between people in spittle and spray, need a clear path to enter the airway. This is why masks work so well — masks that block the nose and mouth inhibit that invasion.
Researchers aren't worried if a mask is airtight as much as whether it makes the path to the airway more complicated.
There are a growing number of experts who think two masks make the path highly complex and could be even more protective.
