Why is an N95 mask better than a cloth one?

New York (AP) — Why is it better to wear an n95 mask than a cloth one right now?

Health experts recommend strengthening protection against the highly contagious omicron variant of the coronavirus with the use of more effective masks such as N95 or KN95.

Doing this is especially important now that health care systems are strained and people may find themselves in higher-risk situations, such as staying in crowded, closed settings for long periods, said Linsey Marr, who studies viruses at Virginia Tech. .

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently updated its guidelines and recommended the masks used by healthcare workers, but also noted the importance of choosing one that fits well on the face and use it constantly.

“Our main message remains that any mask is better than none,” CDC spokeswoman Kristen Nordlund said in a statement.

Previously, the agency had said that N95 masks should be reserved only for medical workers due to a shortage in their supply. There is a special category of “surgical N95” mask that is not generally available for sale to the public, and according to the CDC should continue to be reserved for hospitals and doctors’ offices.

N95 masks fit the face better than cloth masks and are made from a material designed to block 95% of harmful particles. The fibers are more closed than those of cloth masks and have an electrostatic charge that attracts molecules so that they stick to the mask without going through it.

The KN95 and KF94 offer a similar level of protection. A complete list of masks that meet an international quality standard is available on the CDC website.

However, you have to be careful when buying them. The counterfeit market is huge, and about 60% of KN95s in the United States are fake and don’t meet quality standards, according to the CDC.

It is difficult to tell if a mask is pirated with the naked eye, so experts recommend buying them from reputable sellers. Project N95 is a well-known seller of licensed brands, and Marr says she buys masks from industrial suppliers like Grainger or McMaster-Carr.

If wearing certain N95s for long periods of time bothers you, experts recommend examining the designs and styles available to see which one works best for you.

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