Despite being under another Enhanced Community Quarantine, the Philippines has been experiencing a resurgence<\/a> in COVID-19 cases.<\/p>\n Less than a quarter<\/a> of the Philippine population has been fully vaccinated, and access to vaccines is a continuous challenge.<\/p>\n As of this writing, the Philippines has several vaccines approved for use: Moderna<\/em><\/a>, <\/em>Pfizer\/BioNTech<\/em><\/a>, <\/em>Gamaleya<\/em><\/a>, <\/em>Janssen<\/em><\/a>, <\/em>AstraZeneca<\/em><\/a>, <\/em>Covaxin<\/em><\/a>, <\/em>Sinopharm<\/em><\/a>, and <\/em>CoronaVac<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n Recently, a US protein subunit vaccine, Novovax, has applied for FDA approval.<\/p>\n The Delta variant<\/a> is around 60 percent more transmissible than previous variants. Also, data suggests that it might even cause severe illness<\/a> compared to earlier strains in unvaccinated persons.<\/p>\n So, whether you are vaccinated or not, you need to raise your standards on protection. One practical and relatively accessible way is double masking.<\/p>\n Mask Efficacy and Handling<\/strong><\/p>\n Before even going into double masking, make sure that the mask you wear fits properly<\/a>.<\/p>\n Remember that a mask should completely cover your nose and mouth, and fit snugly against the sides of your face. It should not have any gaps.<\/p>\n An easy way to see if a mask fits well is if no cold breath or moisture comes out from the sides. Also, check if your glasses fog up, that means that you need to readjust your mask.<\/p>\n You should also make sure that the mask you wear is capable of effectively blocking droplets that can infect you.<\/p>\n