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Centre’s warning against N95 masks with filter valves

With a variety of masks being available in the market today to fight the virus, the government has issued warnings against those which are not only useless but even harmful.

The central government, in its letter to all states and union territories, cautioned regarding the use of N95 masks which are coupled with valved respirators. It has stated that these types do not make an effort in preventing the virus from spreading outside the mask, i.e. if someone is a carrier, they can transmit the virus even when they are wearing the mask because of the presence of this valve. This also implies that there might be a chance for the virus to enter a healthy individual wearing this mask as well through the filter.

Not only that, but the government has also termed these to be “detrimental” to the precautionary measures being taken up for containing the virus.

The Director-General of Health Services (DGHS) in the Ministry of Health wrote in a letter to the Principal Secretaries of health and medical education of states that “inappropriate use” of N95 masks by people has been noticed, especially the ones with valved respirators. This is considerably getting used more by the general public than the health workers who need N95 masks (ones without filter).

Previously, the government had issued guidelines advising the common man to make use of homemade gears aka masks to cover their mouth and face to stay protected from the dreadful virus. The advisory by DGHS also encouraged people to make their own DIY cloth masks with3 layers at least at the convenience of their home rather than using N95 masks as these should primarily be used by frontline workers who need it the most. The same is available on the Ministry of Health department’s official website.

“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.

Moreover, the government’s advice issued in April suggested people to wear homemade masks, essentially when they leave their homes and go out.

It further mentioned the ways to care for it which included a thorough mandatory wash after every use as homemade cotton cloth masks can be washed and re-used.

As long as the fabric is washed efficiently in boiling hot water for five minutes straight, the color of the same doesn’t require attention. Additionally, it recommended including a pinch of salt to the boiling water. The cloth must be dried completely before proceeding to make a mask out of it.

The procedure to make a face cover as such was mentioned as well, asking people to ensure that it fits the face well with no gaps on the sides to disallow the entrance of the virus more importantly.

It urges people to wash their hands thoroughly before wearing the face cover, switching to another fresh one as the face cover becomes damp or humid, and never reusing it after single use without cleaning it.

“Never share the face cover with anyone. Every member in a family should have separate face cover,” the advisory stated.

Currently, India stands with more than 1.2 million cases and close to 29,000 deaths after record single-day spikes.