Q&A: Everything you need to know about N95 masks

With new, more contagious variants, it can be hard to know how to keep yourself safe. Here's the latest on N95s.

On Feb. 15, the Hy-Vee on Nifong Boulevard offered free N95 masks in front of its customer service desk. The store offers three masks per person per day.

By Lauren Hines | March 9, 2022 | Vox Magazine

As the COVID-19 virus continues mutating, it can be difficult to know how to keep yourself safe.

While the CDC said on Feb. 25 those in low to medium risk areas no longer have to wear masks indoors, experts still recommend N95 and KN95 masks for the best protection in high-risk areas. Due to their dense network of fibers and electrostatic charge, N95 and KN95 masks are better at preventing particles from passing through than cloth and surgical masks.

Even as the omicron variant wanes, local and national experts still recommend masks, social distancing and vaccination to avoid catching and spreading the latest variant, especially to those who are immunocompromised.

Boone County is at medium-risk level, meaning that 10–15% of staffed inpatient beds are occupied by COVID-19 patients on a seven-day average, anything higher than 15% is considered high-risk. Boone County saw 12,479 cases in January, according to the Columbia/Boone County Public Health and Human Services. "Vaccination is still the best way to protect yourself in addition to all those things, so just because the cases are going up, doesn't mean that the vaccines aren't protective," says Taylor Nelson, an infectious disease specialist at MU Health Care.

Vox talked with Nelson, public information specialist Sarah Humm from the Columbia/Boone County Public Health and Human Services and health communication specialist Stephanie Stevens from the office of the director at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

How do N95 masks work?

According to the CDC the “N” in N95 indicates how resistant the mask is to oil, so N95s are not resistant to oil. The “95” means the mask filters out 95% of airborne particles.

N95s work differently than a traditional filter where large particles are blocked from passing through small holes. Instead, they are designed to trap and remove particles from the air.

According to NIOSH, N95s are built with a network of tightly condensed fibers that use molecular attractive forces to make the particles stick. Large particles hit the fibers head-on, medium particles move with airflow, and small particles bounce off nearby air molecules, creating erratic movements that make them more likely to hit a fiber.

The fibers are also charged with a permanent electric field that attracts and captures more nearby particles, such as when you run your hair on a balloon. This extra step makes the process more effective.

Why are N95 and KN95 masks better than other masks?

Nelson states, N95s and KN95s are better than surgical and cloth masks because they tend to have a tighter fit. Additionally, they are made of materials that block more infectious particles than cloth or surgical masks (although surgical masks block more particles than cloth ones).

What is the difference between N95 masks and KN95 masks?

KN95s have ear bands while N95s have headbands. However, the main difference between the two masks is that they are tested by different institutions. In the United States, NIOSH approves N95 masks while KN95s are certified in South Korea and China, according to USA TODAY. As a result, the masks are subject to different testing standards. Only N95 masks are used by health care workers.

On Feb. 15, the customer service desk at the Mizzou Store offered free N95 masks. The service desk offers one mask per person per day.

What about counterfeit masks?

N95 masks have specific labeling that you can verify with the CDC. KN95s should have the name of the manufacturer, the model and a number referencing quality control standards, according to The New York Times. The CDC also found that 60% of the KN95 masks it evaluated in 2020 and 2021 did not meet NIOSH standards.

If you’re out buying masks, go to big retailers first like Home Depot or Lowe’s since they work directly with reliable manufacturers, The New York Times says. Mask quality can be ambiguous on Amazon, so buy from the pages of trusted retailers like 3M or Kimberly-Clark. You can also buy directly from the manufacturers.

Are N95 and KN95 masks reusable?

Yes, to an extent. The CDC recommends no more than five uses for each N95 with at least 72 hours between uses. Humm suggests a mask rotation.

Four masks is all you need. Put them in paper bags and wear a different one every day. That way, by the time you get back to the first mask, 72 hours have passed since you last wore it. All the infectious particles will be inactive. “Whatever system works for people so that they know when the last time they wore that mask,” Humm says. “That can be helpful.”

How do I clean my N95 and KN95 masks?

In May 2020, when personal protective equipment was scarce, the CDC recommended that healthcare workers use decontamination methods like heating masks and exposing masks to UV light. Now that N95s and KN95s are more available, it's not necessary, Nelson says. Those methods could actually degrade the mask more than decontaminate it.

Soap, water, bleach and alcohol can all decrease the effectiveness and alter the electrostatic properties that block infectious particles. “N95 respirators cannot be washed,” says Stevens. “They should be discarded when they are dirty, damaged or difficult to breathe through.”

Where in Columbia can I find N95 masks?

Free N95s can be picked up at a variety of locations throughout Columbia. They can be found at customer service desks at select local Hy-Vee locations, according to KOMU. The Mizzou Store customer service desk also has N95s available as do some local pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens.

What if I can't find or afford N95 masks?

Although surgical and cloth masks provide less protection due to their materials, the fit is most important. “Ensure a tight fit with whatever mask you choose,” Nelson says.

Humm says layering masks is still a good option when N95s or KN95s are hard to acquire.

Supplies are more abundant than they were earlier in the pandemic, and Nelson still suggests taking protective measures and getting vaccinated. “I know this has been a long time,” Nelson says. “But these are the things we still have to do.”

Originally published by Vox Magazine.