COVID-19: Centre Warns Against Use Of N95 Masks With Valves

When the coronavirus infection started spreading in the country, the black marketing of N-95 masks had started and their price had increased manifold. It was then claimed that the N95 mask is very effective in protecting against the coronavirus infection, but after four months, the Health Ministry has advised against the use of this mask. 

The Ministry on Tuesday issued an advisory stating that the mask fitted with respiratory valves has failed to stop the spread of the virus and is against the measures taken to prevent infection.

Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan tweeted, '“The N95 mask fitted with a perforated respirator does not comply with the rules adopted to prevent the spread of coronavirus.”

वाल्व लगे #N95 #Mask #COVID19 के प्रसार को रोकने में सक्षम नहीं !
छिद्रयुक्त श्वसन यंत्र लगा N-95 मास्क कोरोना वायरस के प्रसार को रोकने के लिए अपनाए गए नियमों के विपरीत है।सभी से आग्रह है कि कपड़े से बने Triple layer mask का इस्तेमाल करें व अन्य को इसके प्रति प्रोत्साहित भी करें। pic.twitter.com/1PpBbxeLLB

— Dr Harsh Vardhan (@drharshvardhan) July 21, 2020

“The N95 mask fitted with a perforated respirator does not comply with the rules adopted to prevent the spread of coronavirus,”

He urged everyone to use a triple-layer mask made of cloth and encourage others to do the same.

In the letter written to the States and UTs, Director-General of Health Services Rajiv Garg in the Ministry of Health said, “It is to bring to your knowledge that the use of valved respirator N95 masks is detrimental to the measures adopted for preventing the spread of coronavirus as it does not prevent the virus from escaping out of the mask.”

Four months ago chaos ensued across the country for N-95 masks. The usual price of the mask was Rs 50-100, which spiked to Rs 300-350. Now the Health Ministry says that instead of such masks, it is better to use a triple layer and a homemade mask made of cloth. For this, the Ministry had issued an advisory in April on the use of such homemade protective cover before leaving the house.