Are N95 Masks Likely To Prevent The Spread Of The Contagious Diseases?What Type Of Mask Is Best To Use?

 

Coronavirus has spread all over the world and is causing havoc. People do not know what to do to protect yourself and your family from contagious diseases like COVID-19.Everyoneis following the preventive measures suggested by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) such as frequent hand washing, wearing face mask, practicing social distancing, etc.

But can face masks help slow the spread of the infectious virus SARS-CoV-2? Yes, wearing face masks like N95 respirators mask, KN95 face mask and other masks can preventthe transmission of respiratory droplets from reaching others.But not all masks are effective in defending against the coronavirus. According to some health experts, face masks with exhalation valves actually allow the wearer to expel germs into the air, rather than blocking COVID-19 spreading particles that could spread COVID-19. Any mask that incorporates a one-way valve that is designed to facilitate easy breathing allows the respiratory droplets to be released from the mask, putting others at risk. Even an N95 mask or any mask is not effective if you do not wear it properly.

The N95 respirator provides more protection than a disposable mask as it can filter large and small particles when the user breathes. As the name suggests, the mask is designed to block 95% of very small particles. Some N95 masks have valves that make breathing easier. But with this type of mask, the unfiltered air is released when the wearer exhales, which can risk the other’s lives.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Guidance stated that standard N95 respirators reduce the wearer's risk by filtering air particles by approximately 95%, while the exhalation valves allow releasing the contaminated breath into the air.

Dr. Matthew L. Springer, a cardiologist at the University of California, San Francisco, told the San Francisco Chronicle that masks with exhalation valves are practically of no use.

Noting that most of these masks are not meant to protect the wearer, but to protect others from potentially contagious asymptomatic wearers, he also stated, those one-way valve masks are practically useless to protect others. So, instead of wearing a mask with valves, it is better not to wear a mask.

If you are infected with COVID-19, it is better that you should wear mask with no valve. You can use N95 masks with no valves or KN95 mask to protect yourself from coronavirus.

What type of mask is best to use?

What type of mask is best to protect yourself and others from the transmission of the infectious virus COVID-19 when you are out in public?

There are various types of masks available in the market. You can use N95 mask, N99 mask, N100 respirators mask, KN95 masks, 3-ply disposable mask, or Clothing masks, which can decrease the transmission of the contagious virus all over and can protect you from person showing no symptoms. You can buy face masks KN95 respirator for your everyday use as it works similarly to N95 respirator masks. But avoid wearing masks with valves. Even 3-ply disposable masks provide complete protection and prevent transmitting the unfiltered respiratory droplets to others.

It has been noted that up to 80 percent of transmission stems from asymptomatic carriers of the virus. If you are showing asymptomatic and you are wearing mask with valves, then not provide much protection to the people around the wearer and will put others at risk. So, it is better that you avoid wearing a mask that spreads the virus to others.

N95 masks are not for general public use and should be reserved for healthcare workers and other medical first responders due to limited supply. Since the main reason to wear a mask is to protect yourself and others, so use the disposable mask or any other masks that fit to your face properly and would not allow the virus to enter to your nose and mouth. N95 masks are likely to prevent the spread of the contagious diseases when wearing properly. How should know how to wear mask and follow the steps to put and remove masks.