Health experts recommend strengthening protection against the 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 visiting crowded, closed places for long periods.
The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its guidelines and recommended the masks used by healthcare workers. However, it also noted the importance of choosing one that fits well to the face and using it constantly.
KN95, N95, or KF94 face masks: How do you know which one to use?
With the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of masks and face masks became mandatory practically worldwide. So it is common to see them in different sizes, colors, shapes, and presentations. The situations we find ourselves in, or the meetings we attend, should influence the type of mask to use to prevent COVID-19 infections. However, the most recognized are the KN95, N95, and KF94 masks, but do you know what the difference is and what makes them so special? Here we tell you.
KN95
The Chinese government controls KN95 masks, which filter 95% of particulates. The FDA approved an emergency use license for this form of protection early in the epidemic.
KN95 face masks look similar to N95 masks, but the former has a seam down the middle to create a tent-like shape. KN95 masks are constructed from multiple layers of material.
N95 masks
N95 masks can filter 95 percent of particles from the environment using static electricity. All N95s must be tested and approved by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) in the United States to ensure their safety and effectiveness.
“N95s are tight-fitting and create a seal against the skin, minimizing leaks, which makes it very secure but can also be uncomfortable,” a physician at Massachusetts Hospital said.
According to the doctor, “N95s are critical supplies that must be reserved for healthcare workers and other first responders; otherwise, we are exposing them to tremendous risk.” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have also stated that the N95 is not recommended for use by the general public.
However, this is due to the surge of the pandemic and the need to keep health workers safer because of the population of health workers responding to other infected victims. Also, before the COVID-19 pandemic, these types of masks were used only for patients with highly infectious respiratory diseases, such as tuberculosis, and these masks were discarded after each patient visit.
N95s are not washed and should be thrown away when dirty, damaged, or breathing becomes difficult. They are also more expensive than common masks due to the greater capacity it possess.
KF94
KF94 masks are a hybrid between N95 and cloth masks and filter 94 percent of aerosol particles, despite not being endorsed by NIOSH. These meet the standards of South Korea, and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also authorized them on the list of face masks approved for emergency use.
Despite the differences between these types of masks, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends using any kind of mask as long as it is comfortable and fits well and properly (covering the nose and mouth). Also, this should be chosen by evaluating whether the situation implies greater or lesser risk.
Conclusion
N95 is rated to capture 95% of particles; this is why it is a better option than the cloth mask. Furthermore, it can retract viruses smaller than 0.3 microns, unlike the regular cloth mask, which holds viruses. N95 masks have little stronger conditions for breathability. Follow this link to get an N95 mask to breathe easily and safely
