Does wearing a N95 Respirator protect us from Corona Virus?

Masks work by capturing droplets that are dispersed in coughs, sneezes and breath. These are the main transmission route of the new coronavirus. Close-fitting masks, such as N95 respirator can offer good, but not total protection against infectious droplets, while N99-rated masks can give better protection, but some find them difficult to breathe through. N95 masks can filter particles as small as 0.007 microns – 10 times smaller than viruses

Effectiveness of N95 Masks

Most commonly used for Flu or Influenza prevention, these masks are effective according to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in helping to prevent the spread of Flu, swine flu and COVID-19 transmission from person to person. N95 masks are designed to fit over the nose and mouth of the wearer, and properly fitted can provide excellent protection.

The Coronavirus is transported in the form of respiratory droplets from patient to patient while sneezing and coughing. These particles are typically 120nm in diameter. When a sick patient wears a respirator, the respirator can be very effective at preventing infectious material from leaving the patient’s body, and when worn by healthy individuals, it prevents inhalation of that respiratory droplets. More importantly, wearing a mask is an excellent way of preventing the user from rubbing or touching their mouth or nose, which is a very high-risk factor.

Everything you need to know about respirators and masks

Respiratory Filters can be found in a variety of ratings that relate to how the respirator performs (how much it filters) and what environment type it is designed to be used in. When choosing a respirator it's important to understand the filtering capacity as indicated with the letter rating and number rating.

Respirator Rating Letter Class

o   N - Not oil resistant

o   R - Resistant to oil

o   P - Oil Proof

Respirator Rating Number Class

o   95 - Removes 95% of all particles that are at least 0.3 microns in diameter

o   99 - Removes 99% of particles that are at least 0.3 microns in diameter

o  100 - Removes 99.97% of all particles that are 0.3 microns in diameter or larger. 

Masks are effective only when used in combination with frequent hand-cleaning with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water. If you wear a mask, then you must know how to use it and dispose of it properly.

Article by Dr.Yashoda Tammineni,

MSc, Ph.D.

HSE,HOD at NIFS