SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert, says wearing two face masks could provide more protection against the novel coronavirus virus.

“So if you have a physical covering with one layer, you put another layer on, it just makes common sense that it likely would be more effective,” Fauci told NBC News' Today on Monday. “That’s the reason why you see people either double masking or doing a version of an N95.”

Fauci explained the coverings prevent respiratory droplets from spreading to other people and provide some protection to the wearer.

The Centers for Disease Control has not yet recommended double-masking but does recommend people wear masks that have at least two layers of tightly woven cotton fabric.

Wearing a surgical mask under a cloth mask gives maximum protection because the surgical mask acts as a filter as the cloth adds an additional layer, researchers said.