You may want to keep a few N95 or KN95 masks handy, even if you won’t be using them every day. It comes down to whether you’re concerned about spreading Covid-19, afraid of contracting it yourself, and wondering what can be reasonably expected of you.
Advertisement
Article continues below this ad
When the Covic-19 pandemic truly began forcing Americans out of their offices in March 2020, most of us had a rash of new terms to learn – unfamiliar terms like “shelter-in-place” and “social distancing” – while dealing with the fact that the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) had initially discouraged people from wearing masks at all, only to reverse their advice a few days later.
One cause for this confusion was the many different types of mask: Cloth masks, NIOSH-approved N95 masks, KF94 masks and KN95 masks.
In short, the CDC currently recommends that anyone who is unvaccinated or living in an area with a high number of Covid-19 cases should wear their mask indoors.
Different types of masks
The most common misconception about the now-normal face coverings we all wear is that they prevent you from contracting the disease, when their chief function is to keep you from spreading it.
N95 masks are different: their primary function is to filter incoming air, meaning they minimize the risk of you contracting the virus: The “95” in their name comes from the fact that every N95 mask has passed a CDC test to prevent at least 95% of particles at least 0.3 microns wide. However, this extra security has a cost: N95 masks must be carefully fit, require far more meticulous cleaning, and have a limited number of re-uses.
“NIOSH” approval comes from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, an agency that has been part of the CDC since 1973.
KN95 masks are subject to similar regulations as N95 masks, meaning they must also prove in a laboratory setting that they prevent 95% of objects 0.3 microns across from passing through, and are frequently made out of the same materials, but they receive their “KN95” designation from China instead of the United States.
It is important to note that this doesn’t have anything to do with where the mask is manufactured (many NIOSH-approved N95 masks are manufactured in China), but simply refers to the country that gave the mask its label.
KF94 is a certification used by the South Korean government, and offer a broadly equivalent amount of protection to a properly worn N95 or KN95.
KN95 individually wrapped for $1.99 each at WellBefore
How to judge a specific mask
The CDC tests KN95 masks and keeps a whitelist of masks that meet the American standards. If you’re shopping for KN95 masks, you should look for the manufacturer on that list.
That might be little comfort to someone purchasing a mask for an immunocompromised or otherwise at-risk friend or relative. Luckily, consumers have a lot of options when it comes to researching their masks.
“If I’m the customer, before I purchase a mask I would ask for the test results,” says Shahzil Amin, founder of WellBefore. “The company should have the test results, and the factory on those test results should match the factory they’re promoting. They should be FDA registered, so you can find the company on the FDA website.
“I also feel that if you have a good quality product, your customers will review it and give good scores.”
3M NIOSH N95 Respirator Masks for $5.99 each at WellBefore
You can read reviews of WellBefore's masks on their website. One of WellBefore’s N95 mask manufacturer, Shandong Haidike Medical Products Co Ltd, appears on the FDA’s list of approved manufacturers. Major universities have also purchased their products.
Most importantly, you should do your own independent research. "Don't be scared or hesitant to ask the company you're buying from all the questions on your mind," Amin says (WellBefore offers live email, chat, and phone support on their website).
"Every week we're donating," he adds. "I'm trying to search for more places to donate to. I know they're out there. I want to make more donations, to a non-profit or an organization or even a person at the end of the day."
How to use masks
You can purchase WellBefore's Makrite N95 masks for $1.99. Their KN95 masks, which are FDA registered though not approved, are available individually wrapped for $2.95
Because of their limited use, extreme requirements, and price, it is advisable to reserve KN95 or N95 mask use for extreme situations like flying or surviving a wildfire, especially given the mask shortage that struck earlier this year. Unless you are immunocompromised or otherwise high-risk, ordinary face masks are perfectly acceptable for most day-to-day errands.
Since there is no magic bullet or 100% guarantee against preventing the contraction of spread of COVID-19, the use of all masks should be reserved for necessary travel only. The best way to bring the pandemic to a conclusion continues to be getting your vaccination and avoiding high-risk settings as much as possible.
The article has been updated to reflect changes to the CDC's guidelines.