NEW YORK, Jan. 15 (BUS) – US health officials are encouraging more Americans to wear the N95 or KN95 masks that health care workers use to slow the spread of the coronavirus, the Associated Press (AP) reports.
These types of masks are better at purifying the air. But there was a short supply before, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officials said they should prioritize health care workers.
In updated guidance published late Friday afternoon, Centers for Disease Control (CDC) officials removed concerns about supply shortages and said more clearly that properly fitted N95 and KN95 masks offer the greatest protection.
However, agency officials noted that some masks are more difficult to tolerate than others, and urged people to choose appropriate masks to wear frequently.
“Our main message remains that any mask is better than no mask,” CDC spokeswoman Kristin Nordlund said in a statement.
The CDC has developed its own mask guidelines throughout the pandemic.
In a recent update, in September, CDC officials became more encouraging of disposable N95 masks, saying they can be used in certain situations if supplies are available. Examples include being near a lot of people for long periods of time on a train, bus, or plane; caring for a person in poor health; Or you may be more likely to develop serious illnesses.
On Thursday, President Joe Biden announced that his administration plans to provide “high-quality masks,” including N95s, for free. He said more details are coming next week. The White House said the federal government has a stockpile of more than 750 million N95 masks.
The latest CDC guidelines state that there is a special class of “N95 surgical” masks, designed specifically to protect against blood spasms and other operating room hazards. These are not generally available for sale to the public, the agency said, and should still be reserved for health care workers.
AOQ