Face masks ‘inadequate’ and should be swapped for respirators, WHO advised
The Guardian••health
Key Points:
- A group of experts has urged the World Health Organization (WHO) to replace surgical masks with respirator-level masks (such as FFP2/3 or N95) for healthcare workers, citing surgical masks' inadequate protection against airborne pathogens like Covid-19 and flu.
- The experts argue that respirators should be standard in medical settings to reduce infections, sickness, and burnout among healthcare professionals, emphasizing that surgical masks were originally designed to block droplets, not airborne viruses.
- The letter, endorsed by nearly 50 senior clinicians and over 2,000 public members, suggests that respirator use could be adjusted based on infection rates and ventilation, but calls for WHO to update its guidelines and procurement policies to increase respirator access globally.
- Critics
