CDC Report Says Double Masking, Knotting and Tucking Reduce Coronavirus Spread

Wearing a close-fitting cloth mask over a surgical mask, also known as “double masking,” can significantly decrease transmission of COVID-19, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released Wednesday. The report also says that “knotting the ear loops of a medical procedure mask and then tucking in and flattening the extra material close to the face” significantly reduces transmission. Furthermore, CDC studies show that exposure to the virus is reduced by up to 95% when both the source and the receiver use one or both of these techniques. Coverage followed similar narratives across the spectrum, but varied in the specific figures used to describe the CDC's findings. Some coverage also mentioned statements on double masking by Dr. Anthony Fauci and former President Donald Trump, although neither the left nor the right did this more than the other.