SUNDAY, Jan 16, 2021 (HealthDay Information) — The time to improve your masks is now.
In a departure from its prior recommendation on face masks, new steerage from the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention urges correctly fitted N95 or KN95 masks as one of the best safety in opposition to COVID-19, fairly than material masks.
Early within the pandemic, provide shortages of the N95 and KN95 masks led to prioritization of these masks for healthcare staff, however this new steerage is aimed toward most of the people and is the newest to have developed all through the pandemic.
The fast unfold of the extremely contagious Omicron variant of coronavirus has People questioning which face masks can greatest assist curb an infection.
Earlier than this replace, the CDC in September started recommending that individuals use disposable N95 masks in sure conditions — for instance, use by people who find themselves extra prone to extreme sickness, these caring for an individual who was at-risk, and whereas touring.
The CDC continues to endorse reserving a particular class of masks generally known as “surgical N95” masks for healthcare staff. Their design helps defend in opposition to blood splashes and different working room hazards.
Not everybody feels comfy in an N95, nonetheless, so the CDC additionally stresses that one of the best masks is one that matches effectively and is thus simple to put on constantly.
“Our most important message continues to be any masks is best than no masks,” Kristen Nordlund, a CDC spokeswoman, mentioned in an announcement on Friday, the Related Press reported.
The Biden administration has mentioned they’ll start sending “high-quality” masks to People quickly. Based on the AP, the federal authorities at the moment has a stockpile of greater than 750 million N95 masks. Extra data on the masks rollout is predicted this week.
Extra data
The World Well being Group has extra on COVID-19 and masks.
SOURCE: Related Press
