What to Know About KN95 Face Mask
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A KN95 mask is a type of respirator that meets certain international standards. It offers more protection than a medical mask does because it filters out both large and small particles when the wearer inhales.
As the Omicron variant continues to infect record numbers of people, finding the best mask to help stop the spread is more important now than ever. While any mask is still better than none, doctors and public-health experts now recommend putting aside fabric masks in favor of those that offer higher filtration like KN95s, KF94s, and N95s. The virus spreads much faster now than it did just months ago, replicating 70 times faster in our airways than the Delta variant, according to Dr. Purvi Parikh, an immunologist with NYU Langone Health. So even with vaccines and booster shots in our tool kit, we should all be reaching for the mask that provides the highest level of protection possible.
N95 masks may be the gold standard, as they are approved by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), but KN95 masks, the Chinese equivalent, remain a more widely popular type of disposable high-filtration mask. Their beaklike shape and ear loops (as opposed to the head straps found on N95 masks) make them a more convenient and comfortable everyday choice.
KN95 masks “are made of the same synthetic material as N95 masks and filter out and capture 95 percent of particles in the air.” In addition to filtration efficiency, fit plays a major factor in how well a mask works. “N95s have the tightest seal when fit properly, but are uncomfortable to wear for long periods of time,” says Michael Chang, MD, an assistant professor of pediatrics with McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston. A tighter seal means fewer gaps where potential viral droplets can enter or escape. But since KN95s still provide a similar level of filtration, unless I am in a high-risk environment like a packed indoor concert or an airport where I won’t be taking it on and off every 20 minutes, I’ll go for the more comfortable mask that doesn’t mess up my hair any day.
The next-best protection is afforded by well-fitting KN95s (respirators that meet China’s standards of protections; see more below) and then well-fitting disposable surgical masks, the agency says, followed by layered, finely woven cloth masks. Loosely woven or ill-fitting cloth masks offer the least protection.
While cloth masks can still be useful when layered with other, more highly protective masks, says Consumer Reports’ chief scientific officer, James Dickerson, PhD, “cloth mask use alone is no longer an acceptable tactic.” It’s time to upgrade, even if you’re vaccinated.
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