
Superior Safety: Why Experts Are Recommending N95 Masks
Wearing a mask has been an important part of the fight against the spread of COVID-19 since the earliest days of the pandemic.
Wearing a mask that fits properly over the nose and mouth, combined with frequent hand washing, avoiding crowds, and maintaining at least six feet of distance from others, have been part of public health canon.
Recommendations have evolved, however, just as the virus that causes COVID has evolved. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is now recommending special filtering masks or respirators called N95s to help protect people against the spread of the omicron variant.

Why the change?
There is a much greater understanding of how the virus is spread and shared air is the biggest culprit. Cloth masks, which were encouraged early on, were OK for filtering large droplets. The N95s can filter both large droplets and the smaller particles that can be filled with airborne virus. There are also more N95s available now. Any well-fitting mask, however, is better than no mask.
What’s the Difference Between the N95 and KN95?
The differences are minor.
The N95 is the American standard and the KN95 is the Chinese standard. Both are rated to capture 95% of particles. One difference is the fit. The N95 must pass a test on how well it fits on the face for effective filtering. The KN95 standard does not require a fit test.
The N95s, however, are slightly easier to breathe through than the KN95s.

Beware of Fakes
Whenever there are crises, there will be people who try to take advantage. In this case, there are those who have tried to pass off fake N95 and KN95 masks. The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has a list of approved respirators. It also has tips on how to spot fakes.
- Real N95 respirators should have head straps, not ear loops.
- There should be an easy-to-spot brand name
- They each have a model number
- N95 masks also have approval numbers that start with “TC-84A-”
- The NIOSH name or logo should be visible for N95 masks
- There should also be a filter class — N, P or R.

Are They Reusable?
Health care staff won’t reuse them because of concerns for cross contamination. But for normal, everyday use, it’s fine to reuse an N95. There are some things you can do to make each mask last as long as a week.
- Handle by the edges or straps when putting it on.
- Don’t rub it or poke holes in it.
- Don’t reuse a mask if you know you were near someone who was infected with COVID-19.
- Don’t reuse it if it gets damp, creased, covered in makeup, or visibly dirty.
- Don’t reuse it if it gets damaged or is difficult to breathe through.
- Don’t reuse your mask more than 5 times as the straps can lose their tight fit.
- You can “clean” your mask by leaving it in the sunlight to help particles die off.
- Do NOT put them in the microwave or artificially heat them to speed up the process.
- Do NOT wash them as it degrades their ability to filter particles
Where to get N95 Masks
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is distributing masks to pharmacies around the country to hand out to people in the community. The distribution will expand as more masks become available.
Get Vaccinated
The best way to protect yourselves and the community against the spread of COVID is to get a vaccine. Get the complete series of shots if you’ve only had one and get a booster if you’ve had a full dose. Please visit AltaMed.org or call us at (888) 499-9303 for more information about the vaccine or testing.