Study Measures How Well Neck Gaiters Protect Against COVID-19

Researchers from the University of Georgia are taking a closer look at neck gaiters — the tube-shaped face coverings that have gained a less-than-positive reputation over the past few months.

While Walt Disney World and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention don’t consider neck gaiters to be acceptably protective face coverings, Yahoo Sports reports that criticism may be  premature.

“The level of protection provided by a face covering appears to be substantially driven by the number and quality of layers of material and not whether it’s in the form of a gaiter or a mask,” says a not-yet-published study from the University of Georgia.

Richard Watkins, M.D., an infectious disease physician and professor of internal medicine at Northeast Ohio Medical University, tells Yahoo Sports readers, “The more layers, the better.” Ultimately, says Dr. Watkins, “More research is needed, especially replication studies and studies that sample airborne particles in real-world settings, before neck gaiters can be recommended over masks.”

Read more about the health experts’ opinions on neck gaiters in Yahoo Sports.