Former FDA Commissioner: Masks ‘May Still Help’ Against Delta Variant, But Quality Matters

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Former Food and Drug Administration commissioner Scott Gottlieb on Sunday advised people to continue wearing masks as COVID-19 cases continue to rise and the delta variant spreads, adding that the quality of the masks matters also.

Speaking to CBS ‘Face the Nation’ host John Dickerson, Gottlieb said the makeup of the delta variant is not much different from previous dominant strains of COVID-19.

“So it’s not more airborne and it’s not more likely to be mask permeable. So a mask can still be helpful,” Gottlieb said. “I think, however, that if you are planning to wear a mask, the quality of the mask matters. So if you can get your hands on a KN95 mask or an N95 mask, that will give you a lot more protection.”

Gottlieb also said that at the start of the pandemic, health experts were advising against purchasing such masks due to shortages, but praised the Biden administration for “rushing” the offer.

“So I would encourage people to look at the quality of the mask and try to get their hands on a better quality mask,” he said.

Gottlieb also explained how transmissible the delta variant is, saying those vaccinated are even less likely to spread it, although the chances of transmission are likely higher compared to the transmissibility of older strains.

“There is probably a greater chance that you can pass this delta virus on than some of the older strains, because there is just more of this virus. Viral levels are higher earlier in the infection,” Gottlieb said. .



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