The Centre on Tuesday wrote to all the states and Union Territories, warning against the use of N-95 masks which have valve respirators.
It was announced that masks with such valves will not prevent the virus from spreading. In the letter to the Principal Secretaries of Health and Medical education of states, the Ministry of health said that using such N-95 masks are “inappropriate.”
"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," DGHS Rajiv Garg said in the letter.
Further, the government has been advising the use of homemade protective masks which must be washed and cleaned each day. Well dried cotton masks can be used for the same, and adding salt water to it is recommended.
"Never share the face cover with anyone. Every member in a family should have separate face cover," the advisory stated.
Other precautionary preventive measures including social distancing, washing hands thoroughly with soap frequently, using sanitizers, among the others have also been promoted by the centre.
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