Used in healthcare settings, unlike cloth face coverings, and form part of the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) worn by health staff to protect themselves while caring for and treating people with infectious diseases like COVID-19.

Face masks include surgical masks and the N95 mask, which is regarded as the gold standard for protection against the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The N95 mask is thicker than a surgical mask and is named for its ability to filter out 95% of airborne particles from the air that is inhaled. N95 masks which are widely used in medical and industrial contexts, need to be worn snugly to function efficiently.  Doctors do not recommend their use by the public as they are expensive, not reusable, and do not protect unless securely fitted around the nose and mouth.

Categories:

Infectious Disease Prevention

Cross-reference:

Cloth face coveringCOVID-19PPE (Personal Protective Equipment)SARS-CoV-2