-Why should we avoid using valved N95 masks and their causes...

Since the beginning of the deadly virus COVID-19, the whole world has come to a complete halt and is continuously under immense pressure in battling the virus. As we speak right now there are millions getting affected daily and million deaths occur on an hourly basis. Life is not the same as it used to be before, things that we see and things that we do have completely changed due to the ongoing pandemic.

So what has changed over the time after the world has been hit by this virus is that we have understood that not many jobs need an office to work, people can still get paid by working from their own home and not really need to travel miles together every day and in return creating less traffic on the roads. However majority of the population in a country like India has been tremendously affected by starvation and poverty. Government of India did try to control the virus spread at the very initial stages unlike any other countries by imposing a complete lock down and shutting down its international airports, but was that really enough for this immensely populated country? People were asked to wear mask and maintain social distancing in heavily crowded areas. But even after taking various steps to control the virus the spread did not stop and is still increasing as the time ticks.

Now the Ministry of Health and Family welfare writes that usage of “Valved N95 mask” is not advisable as it will not contain the virus instead it spreads the virus. Central government has written to all the state governments and union territories about the inappropriate usage of “Valved N95 Mask” by the people in the public. Surprisingly when we take a look at the online markets like Amazon (Online shopping portal) in India, “Valved N95 mask” is one of the leading mask variant sold in the country when compared to other types of masks which is really worrying because people who purchased “Valved N95 mask” and who are still using it are not really helping in containing the virus but instead they are unknowingly spreading it.

Let us understand how exactly this happens. The “Valved N95 mask”, has a valve that screens the air and holds the virus out when a person who is wearing it inhales, but here is the twist when the same person exhales, talks, sneezes or coughs the valve do not stop the virus from going out into the atmosphere, where as the prime role of the mask is to hold the virus within the mask and not let it out. Using N-95 masks with valves is recommended when pollution levels are high because they do not allow carbon dioxide to accumulate inside the face cover as per health experts. But the same valve used for exhalation could act as an easy passage for germs or viruses and endanger those in close proximity if the user has an infection.

Screenshot from Amazon online shopping

Now what’s the alternative for this, Well Government has asked all its citizens to prepare their own homemade mask and has asked to use the same which can be washed and reused again. There are certain precautionary measures that have to be taken prior to this. Any cotton fabric can be used to make a mask and before cutting, the fabric must be washed for minimum 5 minutes in boiling water with a pinch of salt in it, later dried and then used to prepare a mask.

Note: This face cover is not recommended for either health workers or those working with or in contact with COVID-19 patients or are patients themselves as these categories of people are required to wear specified protective gear. Wearing of face mask is especially recommended for people living in densely populated areas across India.

To understand the process and protocol for making a homemade mask, please use below link.

https://www.mohfw.gov.in/pdf/Advisory&ManualonuseofHomemadeProtectiveCoverforFace&Mouth.pdf