COVID-19: What kind of masks can we use when fresh N95s are unavailable?
Experimental study: At least one thing in the experiment was changed to see if it had an impact on the subjects (often people or animals) – eg: changing the amount of time mice spend on an exercise wheel to find out what impact it has on weight loss.
US researchers have tested 29 different kinds of face-masks to try and figure out what the best alternatives are if you cannot get your hands on a fresh and fitted top of the line N95 respirator. The team suggests that sterilised or expired N95s with functioning elastic bands are your best bet, followed by N95s in the wrong size. They add that surgical masks scored relatively poorly compared to the N95s, and any mask that was secured with loops around the ears came in at the bottom of the list. The team and an invited commentary author explain that, while the other kinds of masks didn't score as well as the N95s in their tests, they can still be used as acceptable alternatives when you can't get your hands on the coveted N95s.
Journal/conference: JAMA Internal Medicine
Link to research (DOI): 10.1001/jamainternmed.2020.4221
Organisation/s: UNC Health Care, USA
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