How to Buy a Quality Mask
With the number of COVID cases still high and with potentially more infectious variants spreading, it might be time to step up your masked game. Doubling is one solution, but the N95 and other high quality masks still provide better filtering.
Unfortunately, real N95s are still hard to find. The CDC continues to advise the general public against buying N95 or surgical masks because they are necessary for healthcare professionals. Even if you wanted to buy them, there are few of them on earth. In addition, CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walenski recently told CNN that she is concerned that if the CDC recommends the N95, people will find them uncomfortable and eventually stop wearing them.
Any mask is better than none, so it’s better to have a cloth mask on your face than an N95 in your pocket. With that in mind, here are some of your options if you are looking for a high quality mask.
Best sheet mask
Cloth masks should fit well to the face so that air does not seep through the cracks next to the nose or sides of the face. If you buy sheet masks, choose ones that have multiple layers or include a filter pocket (and then use filters with them).
N95 masks
If you manage to find the N95, that’s great, but be careful, there are fakes. A legitimate N95 will have the NIOSH logo and authorization number, which you can double check on the NIOSH website . We also recommend that you read the CDC’s advice on counterfeiting detection . A real N95 will never have earhooks, jewelry, or baby signage.
Masks KN95
KN95 masks are approved in China and are similar to N95 masks, but legal masks are also difficult to obtain. An ECRI study found that 70% of the masks tested with the KN95 mark did not meet the standard.
The FDA has compiled a list of masks that medical professionals are allowed to use during a pandemic, including several specific brands of KN95.
Masks KF94
KF94 is the South Korean designation for a mask very similar to the N95. They are intended to be used by the general public, and NPR says they are easier to find and less expensive than the N95.
FFP2 masks
The European equivalent of N95 is FFP2. In Germany, the authorities now require this in some situations , such as when traveling on public transport.
Reusable Elastomeric Masks
Elastomeric masks are arguably better known from home improvement projects than from healthcare. They have an elastic part that fits your face and replaceable filters, which are often disc-shaped.
The CDC authorizes them to healthcare professionals after discovering that they work well against the coronavirus. The filters are not meant to get wet, but as long as you keep them dry and clean, you can reuse the mask without throwing anything away.