Harsh Vardhan says N95 masks with respirator valves do not prevent coronavirus; asks people to wear cloth mask:
The Union health ministry has warned all stages against the use of N95 masks with valve respirator, saying these can be detrimental as the valves do not prevent the virus from escaping out of the mask. The Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said that N95 masks with respirator valves in them do not prevent the coronavirus from spreading out.
He said the N95 mask fitted with a perforated respirator is contrary to the rules adopted to prevent the spread of coronavirus. In a tweet, Dr. Vardhan requested everyone to use a triple layer mask made of cloth and also to encourage others for this.
Director-General of Health Services, Dr. Rajiv Garg has written to the Principal Secretaries of health and medical education of all the States in this regard. In the letter, Dr Garg said 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.
The government had in April issued an advisory on the use of home-made protective cover for face and mouth, asking people to wear it, particularly when they step out of their residences.
So now think before using your masks and use cloth masks only.
