New Delhi: The Centre has written to all states and union territories warning against the use of N-9 masks with valved respirators by people.
The Director-General of Health Services (DGHS) in the Ministry of Health, Rajiv Garg in a letter said, “It is to bring to your knowledge that the use of valved respirator N-95 masks is detrimental to the measures adopted for preventing the spread of coronavirus as it does not prevent the virus from escaping out of the mask. In view of the above, I request you to instruct all concerned to follow the use of face/mouth cover and prevent inappropriate use of N-95 masks.”
The Central Government in April had urged people to make use of homemade protective cover of face and mouth and wear it whenever they step outside of their houses.
The advisory of the government also stated that such face covers must be washed and cleaned each day and any used cotton cloth can be used to make this face cover.
“Never share the face cover with anyone. Every member in a family should have separate face cover,” the advisory stated.