WHO recommendation…
- If you are healthy, you only need to wear a mask if you are taking care of a person with suspected 2019-nCoV infection.
- Wear a mask if you are coughing or sneezing.
- Masks are effective only when used in combination with frequent hand-cleaning with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water.
- If you wear a mask, then you must know how to use it and dispose of it properly. [Source]
Watch and listen full videos (after the table) carefully.
Masks
Read the reviews of Air pollution mask
Sanitizers
Gloves
Related for you: Get more gloves reviews here
Toilet Paper/Tissue
PPE
Transparent Face Shield
Can Masks Protect Against The New Coronavirus Infection?
What is The correct way to wear and dispose of masks?
Masks
- Manufacturer
- 3-ply and Breathable: 3 ply layers can better block the small particles in air and filter it, reduce the mugginess for wearing mask.
- Considerate design: embedded nose clip can help fit the nose bridge, reduce the fogging on the eyeglasses.
- Elastic ear loop: high elastic ear loop, pose less press to ears and face, avoid the uncomfortableness from long-time use.
- A must for personal and home: perfect personal care pack for daily use, for home and office, school and outdoors, service staff and personal needs. Best gift for family and friends.
- Box of 50 Masks - Sanitary Dispenser Box: Our 3-layer sanitary Masks come In a sealed plastic shrInk-wrapped box that has a perforated dispenser top, so you can conveniently dispense one mask at a time.
- 3-Layers of Filtering Protection: Our 3-ply masks contain a premium pp non-woven outer filter layer, a premium melt-blown polypropylene filtration layer, and a premium soft absorbent pp non-woven inner filter layer. Soft elastic ear loops and flexible adjustable nose clip.
- Easy Breathing, Comfortable to Wear: Tri-folded masks that extend down to cover the face from the nose to underneath the chin with a snug secure fit. The masks are designed for general sanitary purposes only. They are non-medical and are not proven to reduce the transmission of diseases. Single-use masks.
- Ideal for Most Workplaces: Our essential personal protective masks are worn all over the world in most common workplace environments. They are used by Salon and Spa Professionals, Food Service, Retailers, Warehouses, Offices, Schools, both Indoors and Outdoors.
- 50 Masks included!
- Not for Medical use
- Comfortable
- Breathable
- Ear-loops
- Made with high-performance UA materials, designed to be worn all day & when playing sports
- Structured design sits up off the face & lips for added comfort & breathability
- UA Iso-Chill fabric on interior lining & ear loops feels cool to the touch for as long as you wear it
- Fabric is soft & smooth for next to face comfort & moves moisture from your mouth to the insert layer
- Under Armourâs mission is to make all athletes better through passion, design and the relentless pursuit of innovation
- Pack of 24
- Machine Washable and Reusable
- The CDC recommends use of cotton or cloth face coverings in public to reduce community spread by asymptomatic persons
- 2-layer protective construction, intended for everyday wear
- Soft, cotton covered elastic ear loops and chin pleat ensure a stay-put fit
- Knit with breathable, ring-spun cotton
- Adult Mask is 6.5â from nose to chin and 8.25â ear to ear
- Adult Ear loop length is 7â
- Box of 50 Kids Masks In Sanitary Dispenser Box: Includes 10 Masks each of 5 different bright colors (pInk, Aqua, blue, green, yellow) that kids will love! Our 3-layer sanitary Masks come In a sealed plastic shrInk-wrapped box that has a perforated dispenser top, so you can conveniently dispense one mask at a time.
- 3-Layers of Filtering Protection: Our 3-ply masks contain a premium pp non-woven outer filter layer, a premium melt-blown polypropylene filtration layer, and a premium soft absorbent pp non-woven inner filter layer. Soft elastic ear loops and flexible adjustable nose clip.
- Easy Breathing, Comfortable to Wear: Child-sized (5.7â x 3.7â) form-fitting tri-folded masks that are perfect for smaller faces. Tri-folded masks that extend down to cover the face from the nose to underneath the chin with a snug secure fit. The masks are designed for general sanitary purposes only. They are non-medical and are not proven to reduce the transmission of diseases. Single-use masks.
- Ideal Kids Wear: Used by kids at home, school, child care, playing indoor or outdoor, and other fun activities. Masks not intended to be used as toys and also not intended for use by children less than 4 years of age. Perfect for ages 4-12 with adult supervision.
- Pack of 6 Non-Medical Protective Face Masks
- 100% Cotton
- The mask is not FDA-approved, not intended for medical use, and not proven to reduce the transmission of disease
- The CDC recommends use of cotton or cloth face coverings in public to reduce community spread by asymptomatic persons
- Rounded shape with elastic adjustable cord
- Prints and colors will vary
- Breathable - Reusable - Machine Washable
- An Amazon Brand
- Featuring a double layer of lightweight jersey fabric for breathability and comfort, these face coverings have ear loops made of the same fabric for a sturdy and snug, but comfortable fit
- The CDC recommends the use of cloth face coverings while in public to reduce community spread by asymptomatic persons
- Face coverings are not FDA-approved, not intended for medical use, and not proven to reduce the transmission of disease.
- Please reference the provided size chart on the left to ensure a perfect fit
- Machine wash before first use and after every use
- Made in Guatemala
SanitizersÂ
- CONTAINS 62.5% ETHYL ALCOHOL: A must have for cold to stop the spread of illness causing germs.
- SAFE FOR KIDS: Great bulk hand sanitizer pack for parents and teachers. Pure natural ingredients are gentle enough for childrenâs sensitive skin, while still killing germs. Great to use at home or in your classroom where cold germs lurk.
- MOISTURIZING & GENTLE ON SENSITIVE SKIN: Pure natural ingredients deeply nourish skin. Free from the harshest synthetic chemicals used on other brands that irritate sensitive skin. Our nutrient:rich hand sanitizer formula includes jojoba oil to leave your skin germ:free and feeling silky smooth.
- COLD SEASON PROTECTION: A year:round must have thatâs even more important during cold. Protect you and your family from the latest bug going around. Vital hygiene tool for teachers, gym enthusiasts, communal work areas, sales people and other jobs that put you in contact with the public.
- SCENT FREE: ArtNaturals Hand Sanitizer 8 Fl Oz. bottles: Scent Free, infused with Jojoba Oil. Convenient hand sanitizer dispenser bottles are also great for personal use. Keeping a bottle handy in your home, office, car and bag is a great preventative measure during cold season.
- STOPS GERMS: Cold Season doesn't have a chance. 80% Ethyl Alcohol by volume effectively kills 99.9% of germs. Our superior antibacterial germ fighting formula works within seconds to keep you and your family safer.
- SAFE & GENTLE: Purely simple ingredients that help you stay healthy. Safe and gentle enough for kids and adults without compromising effectiveness.
- MOISTURIZES & PROTECTS: Our moisturizing hand sanitizer keeps your skin soft, moist, and looking young by trapping moisture in and protecting your skin giving it a youthful, healthy glow.
- HOW TO USE: This product is a LIQUID and not a gel. Use this as-is as a liquid unscented hand sanitizer, or in spray pump bottles. UNSCENTED - ADD YOUR OWN ESSENTIAL OILS: We haven't added any fragrance so you can dd your favorite essential oils or fragrances. You can also add Aloe Vera to thicken.
- EASY TO USE ANYWHERE: Refill your travel size sanitizer, spray bottles to use for cleaning and disinfecting counter tops or any high traffic area in your home or at work, or mix with aloe vera or other thickners to make a gel. YOUR SATISFACTION IS GUARANTEED: If for any reason you're not satisfied with our product, simply send us a message and we'll make it right.
- Made without parabens, sulfates, phthalates, fragrances or dyes
- Made with plant-derived and other thoughtfully chosen ingredients
- Alcohol-free
- Moisturizing, foaming formula
- Kills 99.9% of common bacteria
- Dermatologist tested
- Product not tested on animals
Gloves
- Thick, Heavy-Duty Resilience â Crafted with Compound of vinyl-based Hybrid, these versatile gloves are stronger than latex while still giving you the dexterity and control you need for needles or equipment. They are powder-free, ambidextrous and offer a stretchy & comfy fit for both men and women.
- Bulk Box Order â Youâll receive a total of 100 total gloves to suit any office or service need. And because they come in compact, stackable boxes, theyâre easy to store, and theyâre also disposable for quick,and simple clean up.
- No Latex, No Powder: Without the use of latex or powder, your body will be kept in optimal
- Highly Versatile: Our gloves are designed to be highly versatile and can be used in a variety of professions: law enforcement professionals, physicians, food vendors, hair coloring specialists, painters, cleaners, pet care as well as in home improvement.
- Available in Medium sizes & counts: These power free exam gloves are 9.5â long, can be worn on either the right or left hand, and fit men and women equally. These powder-free exam gloves come in size M
- â HIGHT QUANTITY â Come with 24 pairs, 48 pcs white gloves, Cotton Material Make your Hand Feel Comfortable.
- â ONE SIZE FITS MOST â These generic gloves measure 8.3â xl length that is long enough for both men and women and can cover your wrist, great for moisturizing
- â WASHABLE AND RE-USEABLE for GREAT VALUE â Made of cotton fabric, these cotton inspection gloves are washable and re-useable for daily use. Soft and lightweight that is quite comfortable to wear on sleeping night or working
- â MULTIPLE USE â Thin gloves are fit for material, matted photograph, archival and art handling, jewelry, sliver and coins inspections or used as serving gloves
- â 100% SATISFACTION GUARANTEED â ANDSTON promises a 30-DAYS FULL MONEY BACK GUARANTEE for our products. Just send us a message and your satisfaction will be 100% guaranteed. So please press the "Add to Cart button". ORDER ONLINE NOW!
- Thick, Heavy-Duty Resilience â Crafted with Compound of vinyl-based Hybrid, these versatile gloves are stronger than latex while still giving you the dexterity and control you need for needles or equipment. They are powder-free, ambidextrous and offer a stretchy & comfy fit for both men and women.
- Bulk Box Order â Youâll receive a total of 100 total gloves to suit any office or service need. And because they come in compact, stackable boxes, theyâre easy to store, and theyâre also disposable for quick,and simple clean up.
- No Latex, No Powder: Without the use of latex or powder, your body will be kept in optimal
- Highly Versatile: Our gloves are designed to be highly versatile and can be used in a variety of professions: law enforcement professionals, physicians, food vendors, hair coloring specialists, painters, cleaners, pet care as well as in home improvement.
- Available in X-Large Size: These power free exam gloves are 9.5â long, can be worn on either the right or left hand, and fit men and women equally. These powder-free exam gloves come in sizes Small,Medium,Large and X-Large so that you can find your perfect fit.
Toilet Paper/Tissue
- Envision is now Pacific Blue Basic
- 2-PLY EMBOSSED TISSUE provides softness; quick absorbency; durability and thickness
- SAFE for all standard sewer and septic systems
- PERFECT SIZE case allows for easier handling and storage
- CONTAINS at least 25% Post-Consumer Recycled Fiber. Meets or Exceeds EPA Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines
- UL ECOLOGO Certified for reduced environmental impact. View specific attributes evaluated at UL.COM/EL UL-175
- THIS PRODUCT MEETS Green Seal Standard GS-1 based on chlorine free processing energy and water efficiency and content of 100% recovered material with a minimum of 25% post consumer material
- CAN help earn LEED credits
- The Sustainable Forestry Initiative certified sourcing label is proof Georgia-Pacific is using fiber from responsible and legal sources. SFI is a registered trademark owned by Sustainable Forestry Initiative Inc.
- Includes 30 rolls (5 packs of 6 rolls). Each roll has 350 2-ply sheets (10,500 sheets in total)
- Safe for standard sewer and septic systems
- Made with pulp from responsibly sourced trees
- If youâre not completely satisfied, weâll refund the full amount of your purchase. No returns necessary.
- An Amazon Brand
- Running a business means taking care of every detail, from the design of the menu to the décor in the dining room. Make sure your restrooms reach the same standard of excellence as the rest of your facility with soft and strong COTTONELLE 2-ply bathroom tissue.
- Premium COTTONELLE toilet paper, in 2-ply standard rolls, is an ideal choice for your business. Use in retail, offices, hospitality, restaurants or wherever you want to make a first-rate impression on washroom guests.
- Premium softness for reliability.
- Kleenex bathroom tissue fits in universal standard bath tissue roll dispensers.
- Hygienic, individually wrapped standard rolls come in convenient case sizes, for easy storage. Youâll want to purchase in bulk, so you never run out, even in a commercial space.
- This product has been discontinued by the manufacturer
PPE
- Serged seams, attached hood, front zipper closure, elastic wrists and attached boots
- Inherent barrier protection against dry particulate hazards
- Applications range from agriculture to spray painting to lead remediation
- Even after abrasions, stops microporous particles better than other reusable garments
- The best balance of protection, durability and comfort
- Cloth-like fiber material
- Full pullover hood
- Elastic wrist and ankle closures
- Full zipper front
- Passes ASTM F903 penetration testing for Isocyanate Based Paint
- Anti-Static
- Cloth-Like Fiber
- Full Pullover Hood
- Full Zipper Front and Elastic Wrists
- Non-Elastic Ankle Cuffs
- đ Stops bees having directed access to your skin by protecting your whole body with this strong & durable 100% cotton beekeeper suit/jacket. Cotton suits are better at preventing at preventing sting than polycotton suits.
- đ„ Protect Your Face - Natural Apiary bee suits use non-flammable mesh veils. To protect your face from smoker or lighter flames.
- đ Includes two veils (Round & Fencing), designed to improve visual attention and prominence, making it easier for you to spot your queen and eggs when inspecting your beehives.
- đȘ Strong gunmetal metal YKK Zippers, that are 10X stronger than plastic, 5X stronger than brass.
- đ A comfortable outfit that gives you room to move. Using traditional tailoring, double stitching & strong Velcro & elastic seals. Deign for Maximum Protection and comfort.
Transparent Face Shield
- R20 Rezvani Face Shields With No Assembly Needed
- Comfortable, Durable, Quality Material. Easy To Clean.
- 8 Adjustable Setting, Anti-fog, Anti-static
- Made in America
How to Put on, Use, Takeoff & Dispose of A Mask
WHO said…
- Before putting on a mask, clean hands with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water.
- Cover mouth and nose with mask and make sure there are no gaps between your face and the mask.
- Avoid touching the mask while using it; if you do, clean your hands with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water.
- Replace the mask with a new one as soon as it is damp and do not re-use single-use masks.
- To remove the mask: remove it from behind (do not touch the front of mask); discard immediately in a closed bin; clean hands with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water.
Interim Guidance for Preventing the Spread of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Homes and Residential Communities
Separate yourself from other people and animals in your home
People: As much as possible, you should stay in a specific room and away from other people in your home. Also, you should use a separate bathroom, if available.
Animals: You should restrict contact with pets and other animals while you are sick with COVID-19, just like you would around other people. Although there have not been reports of pets or other animals becoming sick with COVID-19, it is still recommended that people sick with COVID-19 limit contact with animals until more information is known about the virus. When possible, have another member of your household care for your animals while you are sick. If you are sick with COVID-19, avoid contact with your pet, including petting, snuggling, being kissed or licked, and sharing food. If you must care for your pet or be around animals while you are sick, wash your hands before and after you interact with pets and wear a facemask.
See COVID-19 and Animals for more information.
Wear A Facemask
You should wear a facemask when you are around other people (e.g., sharing a room or vehicle) or pets and before you enter a healthcare providerâs office. If you are not able to wear a facemask (for example, because it causes trouble breathing), then people who live with you should not stay in the same room with you, or they should wear a facemask if they enter your room.
Monitor your symptoms Seek prompt medical attention if your illness is worsening (e.g., difficulty breathing). Before seeking care, call your healthcare provider and tell them that you have, or are being evaluated for, COVID-19. Put on a facemask before you enter the facility. These steps will help the healthcare providerâs office to keep other people in the office or waiting room from getting infected or exposed. Ask your healthcare provider to call the local or state health department. Persons who are placed under active monitoring or facilitated self-monitoring should follow instructions provided by their local health department or occupational health professionals, as appropriate. If you have a medical emergency and need to call 911, notify the dispatch personnel that you have, or are being evaluated for COVID-19. If possible, put on a facemask before emergency medical services arrive.
Close contacts should also follow these recommendations:
[Source]
- Make sure that you understand and can help the patient follow their healthcare providerâs instructions for the medication(s) and care. You should help the patient with basic needs in the home and provide support for getting groceries, prescriptions, and other personal needs.
- Monitor the patientâs symptoms. If the patient is getting sicker, call his or her healthcare provider and tell them that the patient has laboratory-confirmed COVID-19. This will help the healthcare providerâs office take steps to keep other people in the office or waiting room from getting infected. Ask the healthcare provider to call the local or state health department for additional guidance. If the patient has a medical emergency and you need to call 911, notify the dispatch personnel that the patient has, or is being evaluated for COVID-19.
- Household members should stay in another room or be separated from the patient as much as possible. Household members should use a separate bedroom and bathroom, if available.
- Prohibit visitors who do not have an essential need to be in the home.
- Household members should care for any pets in the home. Do not handle pets or other animals while sick. For more information, see COVID-19 and Animals.
- Make sure that shared spaces in the home have good air flow, such as by an air conditioner or an opened window, weather permitting.
- Perform hand hygiene frequently. Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains 60 to 95% alcohol, covering all surfaces of your hands and rubbing them together until they feel dry. Soap and water should be used preferentially if hands are visibly dirty.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
- You and the patient should wear a facemask if you are in the same room.
- Wear a disposable facemask and gloves when you touch or have contact with the patientâs blood, stool, or body fluids, such as saliva, sputum, nasal mucus, vomit, urine.
- Throw out disposable facemasks and gloves after using them. Do not reuse.
- When removing personal protective equipment, first remove and dispose of gloves. Then, immediately clean your hands with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Next, remove and dispose of facemask, and immediately clean your hands again with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Avoid sharing household items with the patient. You should not share dishes, drinking glasses, cups, eating utensils, towels, bedding, or other items. After the patient uses these items, you should wash them thoroughly (see below âWash laundry thoroughlyâ).
- Clean all âhigh-touchâ surfaces, such as counters, tabletops, doorknobs, bathroom fixtures, toilets, phones, keyboards, tablets, and bedside tables, every day. Also, clean any surfaces that may have blood, stool, or body fluids on them.
- Use a household cleaning spray or wipe, according to the label instructions. Labels contain instructions for safe and effective use of the cleaning product including precautions you should take when applying the product, such as wearing gloves and making sure you have good ventilation during use of the product.
- Wash laundry thoroughly.
- Immediately remove and wash clothes or bedding that have blood, stool, or body fluids on them.
- Wear disposable gloves while handling soiled items and keep soiled items away from your body. Clean your hands (with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer) immediately after removing your gloves.
- Read and follow directions on labels of laundry or clothing items and detergent. In general, using a normal laundry detergent according to washing machine instructions and dry thoroughly using the warmest temperatures recommended on the clothing label.
- Place all used disposable gloves, facemasks, and other contaminated items in a lined container before disposing of them with other household waste. Clean your hands (with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer) immediately after handling these items. Soap and water should be used preferentially if hands are visibly dirty.
- Discuss any additional questions with your state or local health department or healthcare provider.
No, a regular surgical mask will not help you steer clear of the virus.
Can wearing a medical face mask protect you against the new coronavirus? It’s a question many people are asking, including pet owners who are putting canine face masks on their dogs.
If it’s a regular surgical face mask, the answer is no, Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease specialist at Vanderbilt University in Tennessee, told Live Science.
A more specialized mask, known as an N95 respirator, can protect against the new coronavirus, also called SARS-CoV-2. The respirator is thicker than a surgical mask, but neither Schaffner nor the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) recommend it for public use, at least not at this point.
That’s because, in part, it’s challenging to put on these masks and wear them for long periods of time, he said.
Specialists receive retraining annually on how to properly fit these respirators around the nose, cheeks and chin, ensuring that wearers don’t breathe around the edges of the respirator. “When you do that, it turns out that the work of breathing, since you’re going through a very thick material, is harder. You have to work to breathe in and out. It’s a bit claustrophobic. It can get moist and hot in there,” Schaffner said.
“I know that I can wear them when I need to for about a half-hour,” he added. “But then, I have to go out of the isolation room, take it off and take some deep breaths, kind of cool off, before I can go back in.”
While it still might be possible to snag an N95 respirator online, Schaffner advised against it. If too many people unnecessarily stockpile respirators, a shortage could put the health of medical workers and those who need them at risk, Schaffner said.
Surgical Masks
The thinner surgical mask is intended for surgeons, because these products do a good job of keeping pathogens from the doctorâs nose and mouth from entering the surgical field, Schaffner said.
In some Asian countries, such as Japan and China, itâs not uncommon to see people wearing surgical masks in public to protect against pathogens and pollution. But those masks donât help much in the context of a virus, Schaffner said. âTheyâre not designed to keep out viral particles, and theyâre not nearly as tightly fitted around your nose and cheeksâ as an N95 respirator, he said.
âCould they be of some use? Yes, but the effect is likely to be modest,â Schaffner said.
He noted that some people wear surgical masks because they are sick with a cold or the flu and they donât want to get other people sick. But if youâre sick, itâs best just not to go to public areas. âThatâs the time to stay home,â Schaffner said.
People sick with COVID-19, however, should wear face masks to reduce the risk of infection to people around them, according to the CDC. Health care workers and those âtaking care of someone infected with COVID-19 in close settings (at home or in a healthcare facility),â should also wear face masks, the CDC reported.
People wearing surgical masks should dispose of them after each use, the CDC added.
Otherwise, the best way to avoid getting the coronavirus is to, first and foremost, postpone any travel to places with known outbreaks. You can also thoroughly wash your hands; avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands; avoid close contact with people who are sick; and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces, the CDC recommends.
As for pet owners putting face masks on their dogs, one dog in Hong Kong had a âweak positiveâ for COVID-19, but it seems likely that the virus got into the dogâs respiratory tract while the pup was sniffing around, not because the dog was actually infected, as it didnât have symptoms of the disease, the Hong Kong government reported on Feb. 28.
[SOURCE]
Advice on the Use of Masks
This document provides rapid advice on the use of medical masks in communities, at home and at health care facilities in areas that have reported outbreaks caused by the 2019 novel coronavirus (nCoV). It is intended for public health and infection prevention and control (IPC) professionals, health care managers, health care workers and community health workers.
– Access the publication
Q&A on infection prevention and control for health care workers caring for patients with suspected or confirmed 2019-nCoV
Are boots, impermeable aprons, or coverall suits required as routine person protective equipment (PPE) for healthcare workers (HCW) caring for patients with suspected or confirmed 2019-nCoV infection? Can disposable medical face masks be sterilized and reused? Do patients with suspected or confirmed 2019-nCoV need to be hospitalized if they have mild illness? Here you will find answers to these and other questions related to infection prevention and control for health care workers caring for patients with suspected or confirmed 2019-nCoV.
– Read the Q&A
Preventing Coronavirus
There are currently no vaccines available to protect you against human coronavirus infection.
If you have travelled to Hubei province, China, in the last 14 days, limit your contact with others for 14 days from the date that you left Hubei. This means self-isolate and stay at home. Contact the local public health authority in your province or territory within 24 hours of arriving in Canada.
The following steps will help to reduce contact with others:
- stay home (self-isolate)
- avoid individuals with chronic conditions, compromised immune systems and older adults
- avoid having visitors to your home
- wash your hands often with soap and warm water for 20 seconds
- cover your mouth and nose with your arm when coughing and sneezing
In general, the following advice can help reduce the risk of infection or spreading infection to others:
[Source]
- wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
- avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands
- stay home if you are sick
- when coughing or sneezing:
- cover your mouth and nose with your arm or tissues to reduce the spread of germs
- immediately dispose of any tissues you have used into the garbage as soon as possible and wash your hands afterwards
- avoid visiting people in hospitals or long-term care centres if you are sick
Are Face Masks Effective in Protecting Against COVID-19?
Face masks help prevent further spread of infection from those who are sick to others around them. However, face masks do not seem to be as effective in protecting those who are not infected.
[SOURCE]
CDC doesnât recommend that healthy people wear a facemask to protect themselves from respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19. Only wear a mask if a health care provider tells you to do so.
WHO also recommends that you:
[Source]
- Avoid eating raw or undercooked meat or animal organs.
- Avoid contact with live animals and surfaces they may have touched if you’re visiting live markets in areas that have recently had new coronavirus cases.
Follow CDCâs recommendations for using a facemask.
[Source]
- CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a facemask to protect themselves from respiratory diseases, including COVID-19.
- Facemasks should be used by people who show symptoms of COVID-19 to help prevent the spread of the disease to others. The use of facemasks is also crucial for health workers and people who are taking care of someone in close settings (at home or in a health care facility).
What makes N95 respirators different from facemasks (sometimes called a surgical mask)?
- Infographic: Understanding the difference between surgical masks and N95 respiratorspdf icon
- N95 respirators reduce the wearerâs exposure to airborne particles, from small particle aerosols to large droplets. N95 respirators are tight-fitting respirators that filter out at least 95% of particles in the air, including large and small particles.
- Not everyone is able to wear a respirator due to medical conditions that may be made worse when breathing through a respirator. Before using a respirator or getting fit-tested, workers must have a medical evaluation to make sure that they are able to wear a respirator safely.
- Achieving an adequate seal to the face is essential. United States regulations require that workers undergo an annual fit test and conduct a user seal check each time the respirator is used. Workers must pass a fit test to confirm a proper seal before using a respirator in the workplace.
- When properly fitted and worn, minimal leakage occurs around edges of the respirator when the user inhales. This means almost all of the air is directed through the filter media.
- Unlike NIOSH-approved N95s, facemasks are loose-fitting and provide only barrier protection against droplets, including large respiratory particles. No fit testing or seal check is necessary with facemasks. Most facemasks do not effectively filter small particles from the air and do not prevent leakage around the edge of the mask when the user inhales.
- The role of facemasks is for patient source control, to prevent contamination of the surrounding area when a person coughs or sneezes.⯠Patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 should wear a facemask until they are isolated in a hospital or at home. The patient does not need to wear a facemask while isolated.
My employees complain that Surgical N95 respirators are hot and uncomfortable â what can I do?
[Source]
- The requirements for surgical N95 respirators that make them resistant to high velocity streams of body fluids and help protect the sterile field can result in a design that has a higher breathing resistance (makes it more difficult to breath) than a typical N95 respirator. Also, surgical N95 respirators are designed without exhalation valves which are sometimes perceived as warmer inside the mask than typical N95 respirators. If you are receiving complaints, you may consider having employees who are not doing surgery, not working in a sterile field, or not potentially exposed to high velocity streams of body fluids wear a standard N95 with an exhalation valve.
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