The CDC has suggested wearing N95 or KN95 because they offer the best protection against COVID-19.
With the need for high-quality masks on the rise, be careful of counterfeit masks hitting the market.
The Omicron symptom that is emerging among the aging
High demand for high-quality masks
At the beginning of the pandemic N95 or KN95 were not initially recommended for the general population. They feared that increased demand for the more protective masks would reduce their availability for healthcare workers. Read more about it here.
Now that the higher quality masks are being recommended to the general public, you probably want to know where you can get one.
The government bought N95 masks for all Americans. Up to three free masks will be made available to Americans.
Local health offices will provide the most help in finding distribution locations near you.
COVID-19: we might have to tolerate Omicron’s spread
How can I be sure the N95 isn’t counterfeit?
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) helps users navigate the mask market. Each mask should have an abbreviated label on the respirator itself with the following information listed clearly.
All N95 and KN95 masks should have:
- Name or logo of the approval holder
- TC Approval Number – in the format TC-84A-XXXX
- Model or part number
- Protection rating – NIOSH follows the alpha-numerical rating system (N95, KN95, N99, etc…)
- NIOSH, in block capital letters
Counterfeit N95 masks haven’t gone through the rigorous testing and evaluation process. This means that using a fake N95 mask does not ensure proper protection.
These fake masks are primarily being sold online.
People are still dying from COVID-19
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to [email protected]