Here Is Why The Government Wants You To Stop Wearing N95 Face Masks Amid COVID-19 Spread

For a long time, we were told that the N95 masks are the best and it offers the best protection from pollution and other airborne particles including viruses and bacteria.

Naturally, the demand for them skyrocketed following the COVID-19 outbreak, when masks became mandatory to step out of your house.

BCCL

But on Monday, in what came as a surprise to many, the Director General of Health Services (DGHS), in the ministry of health, wrote a letter to states and union territories warning against the use of N-95 masks with valved respirators by people, saying these do not prevent the virus from spreading out and are ¡°detrimental¡± to the measures adopted for its containment.

The letter said it has been observed that there is ¡°inappropriate use¡± of N-95 masks, particularly those with valved respirators, by the public other than designated health workers.

BCCL

¡°It is to bring to your knowledge that the use of valved respirator N-95 masks is detrimental to the measures adopted for preventing the spread of coronavirus as it does not prevent the virus from escaping out of the mask. In view of the above, I request you to instruct all concerned to follow the use of face/mouth cover and prevent inappropriate use of N-95 masks,¡± DGHS Rajiv Garg said in the letter.

The DGHS referred to the advisory on the use of homemade protective cover for face and mouth available on the website of the Ministry of Health.

BCCL

The government had in April issued an advisory on the use of homemade protective cover for face and mouth, asking people to wear it, particularly when they step out of their residences.

The advisory stressed such face covers must be washed and cleaned each day, as instructed, and stated that any used cotton cloth can be used to make this face cover.

It should be noted that N95 masks as such are not the issue here, but how it is being used inappropriately, particularly those with a 'valved respirator' which are essentially meant to be used by designated health workers.

BCCL

The trouble with N95 masks is the same that has been touted as one of its biggest benefits till now - the valve which is a plastic disk and helps to filter the inhaled air and makes it comfortable for wearing.

But while exhaling the valve does not filter the air and thus could result in the virus getting out. In simple terms, N95 masks do not prevent coronavirus from escaping out of the mask, and that could be dangerous.

In its advisory, the government had said that the colour of the fabric does not matter but one must ensure that the fabric is washed well in boiling water for five minutes and dried well before making the face cover. Adding salt to this water is recommended, it said.