If you wear an N95 mask with an exhalation valve, you could be doing more damage


Since it is possible to transmit the coronavirus even if it shows no symptoms, the CDC recommends covering your face to protect others. You can buy disposable masks, sew your own from cloth, or buy cloth masks, but experts warn about using N95 respirators with a breather valve.

N95 respirators that have an exhalation valve filter the air you inhale but not the air you exhale. People may prefer these masks as it is easier to breathe out, and their faces can be kept cooler and less moisture will accumulate inside the mask. And while the CDC stated that an N95 respirator with an exhalation valve provides the same level of user protection as one without a valve, they should not be used in situations where a sterile field must be maintained, such as in a room of operations. This is because the exhalation valve allows the unfiltered exhaled air to escape to the sterile field.

Paul Albrecht, nurse manager of the Mayo Clinic Health System emergency department, added that if he coughs or sneezes, he is forcing air particles out of the openings. Since the use of a mask is intended to prevent potentially infectious oral drops from spreading to others, this completely negates the point of wearing a mask for protection against coronavirus.

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In fact, the CDC said that overall N95 respirators (with or without a breather valve) should only be worn by healthcare professionals who must undergo training to ensure proper use and fit. They are needed in hospitals and are not recommended for public use.

While breathing a disposable or reusable cloth mask without a breather valve can be more difficult, be courteous and protect others by wearing one whenever you are in a public situation.

POPSUGAR aims to provide you with the most accurate and up-to-date information about the coronavirus, but the details and recommendations on this pandemic may have changed since its publication. For the latest information on COVID-19, consult the resources of the WHO, CDC, and local public health departments.

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