Neck Gaiters Are Effective Face Coverings, Says CDC and NIOSH Report -- Occupational Health & Safety

Neck Gaiters Are Effective Face Coverings, Says CDC and NIOSH Report

Neck gaiters have been proven to provide protection from coronavirus-carrying respiratory droplets.

By Nikki Johnson-Bolden
Dec 21, 2020

A joint study by the CDC and National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) reported that neck gaiters are just as effective as cloth masks.

Though neck gaiters were initially given a caution label by the CDC, the agency now believes that gaiters protect wearers from respiratory droplets that contain coronavirus when they have more than one layer of material. Research done by the University of Georgia showed that double-layered neck gaiters provide an 81 percent reduction in respiratory droplets.

“Many gaiters are single layers of fabric, but they can easily be folded up to create two or three layers, making them as good, if not better, than standard two-layer masks,” said Suraj Sharma, a professor at the University of Georgia.

The CDC recommends this method of wearing neck gaiters as well.

About the Author

Nikki Johnson-Bolden is an Associate Content Editor for Occupational Health & Safety.

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