Is it okay to wear a N95 face mask with an exhalation valve to protect me and others from COVID-19?
Yes, an N95 filtering facepiece respirator will protect you and provide source control to protect others. A NIOSH-approved N95 filtering facepiece respirator with an exhalation valve offers the same protection to the wearer as one that does not have a valve. As source control, findings from NIOSH research suggest that, even without covering the valve, N95 respirators with exhalation valves provide the same or better source control than surgical masks, procedure masks, cloth masks, or fabric coverings.
Why shouldn’t material masks with exhalation valves be used during the COVID-19 pandemic?
• Do NOT wear cloth masks with exhalation valves or vents since they allow respiratory droplets containing the virus to escape.
Are face masks with valves acceptable to minimize the spread of COVID-19?
To protect our patients, their families, and our staff from COVID-19, we’re asking people not to use face masks with small plastic valves in the front panel.
What does N95 respirator mean?
N95 respirators, commonly called N95 masks, are air filters worn on the face to capture tiny pollution particles before they can reach the sensitive tissue in your lungs. The effectiveness of N95 masks is controversial, and evidence on both sides of the issue is far from comprehensive.
Why to use a N95 mask?
Specially-made versions are also available for people in industrial jobs, and surgical N95 face masks are available for those in health care professions. The number refers to the percentage of particles that the mask can filter out. N95 masks shouldn’t be used if oil aerosols are present, as oil damages the filter.
What is the purpose of the N95 dust mask?
These masks, available in a wide variety of designs and colors, all serve the same purpose: to prevent pollen, dust, smoke, and viruses from entering the body through the respiratory system. N95 masks are often distributed in bulk during outbreaks of communicable diseases or certain types of natural disasters.