Expert: Leave N95 masks for medics

While they are better for protection against covid19, N95 masks should be saved for medical practitioners, especially those doing procedures that could cause aerosolised particles to spread.

This was the advice of consultant in internal medicine and infectious diseases Dr Marlon Rampaul at the Ministry of Health's daily press briefing on covid19 on Friday. He said N95 masks are denser and able to contain aerosol particles, while cloth masks are better suited to containing droplets.

He pointed out that the covid19 virus is mostly spread by droplets which stay on surfaces for hours, so the cloth masks are adequate. Rampaul said equipment should be used rationally, as the country is trying to balance protecting the population and conserving equipment for the long term.

Aerosolisation-causing medical procedures where N95 masks are necessary for medical practitioners:

*Nasopharyngeal swab testing

* Sputum induction

* Nebuliser therapy

* Non-invasive ventilation

* Intubation and extubation

* Tracheal aspiration

* Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)