During the coronavirus pandemic, it is evident that not all agree or comply with the standards. A Facebook post went viral, claiming N-95, surgical, and cloth masks were ineffective and potentially harmful against COVID-19.
There were various versions of the post, including an image of a car with writing on its windshield. It was unclear who wrote it, but the person claimed to be "OSHA 10&30 certified". The post was implying that wearing masks could cause headaches, high blood pressure, and brain damage.
Another video uploaded by The Healthy American in June made similar claims, saying that OSHA masks do not work. Additionally, the video claimed that masks breach the administration's oxygen level standards.
According to USA Today, being "OSHA certified" does not directly translate to that person being affiliated with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. It just implicates that the person took the administration's ten-hour and 30-hour training on health and safety hazards. Furthermore, they report that it does not include training on issues related to COVID-19.
N-95 Mask for Coronavirus: Yay or Nay
The post on Facebook has now been flagged for sharing partly false information. It claimed that N-95 masks were designed for use in contaminated environments. Exhaling through the cover means you are exhaling into contamination.
The exhaled air from the N-95 masks is then vented to be breathed in straight out without filtration. The post points out that it does not filter the air on the way out. Furthermore, it claims that the mask blows the virus into the air from a contaminated person.
Although not entirely false, it isn't completely accurate either. According to experts, it depends on what kind of N-95 mask you have as some are manufactured differently.
The San Francisco Department of Public Health tweeted an image of two different kinds of N-95 masks in May. They warn that N-95 masks with valves in front are unsafe and could drive germs further into your system.
Still seeing a lot of these masks out there, it's confusing, because they are called N95- but the ones with the **valves** or openings on the front are NOT safe, and may actually propel your germs further!! @SFFDPIO @SFPD @sfgov @LondonBreed @MyrPressOffice https://t.co/xHxNy28EUz — SFDPH (@SF_DPH) May 4, 2020
Do Surgical and Cloth Masks Work Against COVID-19?
The viral post pointed out that surgical masks are meant to be worn in sterile environments and should be changed every 20-30 minutes when used in a non-sterile atmosphere. It also said that cloth masks do not filter anything.
According to Dr. Marissa Baker, the director of the University of Washington's Industrial Hygiene program, the post's claim is misleading. Although surgical masks are indeed worn in sterile fields, OSHA says that surgical masks are used to protect workers against droplets containing potentially infectious elements.
The authority says surgical masks are efficient in trapping the wearer's respiratory droplets. However, they warn that it isn't useful in protecting the wearer against airborne particles due to its loose fit.
Similarly, with cloth masks, OSHA says they are effective in trapping the wearer's germs to protect others from getting infected. However, they are ineffective in protecting the wearer from the pathogens of others, which agrees with information shared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Furthermore, researchers from Cambridge and Greenwich universities in the U.K. also found that wearing masks in public is twice as effective in reducing infections. Although cloth masks won't necessarily filter what's coming in, the research suggests that they are still effective in slowing the spread of the virus.
